She was never at a loss for a topic. There were all sorts of parochial and urban schemes to be discussed, among the latter a new home for strayed street boys, which the good lady had established in one of the Lambeth lanes. She was now well known in that neighbourhood, and though she had her people under well nigh despotic rule, was none the less beloved on that account. Even the recalcitrant Mother Mandarin yielded to her. As for the street boys, who were her especial care, she had banged so many of their heads together, that they now no longer swore at her so much as they swore by her. By sheer persistence and strength to enforce her commands, she had brought about a cleansing nothing short of Augean. Her sway was absolute as that of any Cæsar--her methods every whit as drastic and vastly more beneficial. "Do you know I had rather a shock last week, Miriam?" said Mrs. Parsley, rubbing her nose. "Did you; how?" "Well, that wretched Gideon Anab--no, he shan't be called Gideon Anab since he has fallen away from grace--that wretched Shorty has gone back to live with his disreputable old grandmother!" "You don't say so; and where has he been all this time?" "Somewhere in Whitechapel, I believe. I know he went off last year with five pounds of my money. I'm disappointed in that boy, Miriam. I thought his instincts were good, and that if he had the chance he'd rise. But he hasn't; he's taken a rise out of me instead!" "The young vagabond he wants a good flogging." "No good, my dear. Take my word for it, when they're past me they're past everything. However, he has promised a lot now, and we're going to begin over again, Miriam, my dear, for the last time. But I haven't told you what really gave me the shock. How old do you think the wretch is?" "Oh, I don't know; about sixteen." "He's twenty-three! You may well stare. It's perfectly true. Not that he hasn't wickedness for ninety-nine; still, even now I don't despair of him. I'll lead him to the stool of repentance yet, if I have to lead him by the ear." "I rather think that's about the only way you'll ever lead him in that particular direction," said Miriam drily. Mrs. Parsley rubbed her nose with more than her usual vigour. Miriam waited, taking it as an infallible sign that there was more to come. The old lady looked troubled and embarrassed. "Of course," she began, "the boy's an awful liar; still----" she hesitated. "Oh, do go on, please." "Yes; I think you ought to know. Well, Shorty, amongst other things, has had a fit--don't be alarmed, dear, on his account, he's all right--the devil looks after his own--a fit of repentance, or what stands for such with him. Anyway, he's been confessing certain facts which are rather serious for your brother Jabez. It appears he saw him hanging round the Manor House on that Christmas night--in fact, he saw him in the library with Barton." "I don't believe it," cried Miriam vehemently. "Why, I had that letter from him from London----"