Some hours later, in the course of that same day, Mrs. Cragg sat alone in her bedroom. She had taken the precaution to lock her door. Mr. Cragg was still busy in the warehouse, and Dot was occupied with Pattie. She had waited till now to examine the letters, and all three lay upon her knee. The first of the three which she read was as follows:— "DEAR DALE,—" "Will you come round this evening at eight? I have something of great importance to say. I hope from the bottom of my heart that it is nothing—that all will prove to be right. But I am very uneasy. Pray come punctually." "Yours sincerely," "J. PETERSON." The second letter bore a date some three or four days later. "DEAR DALE,—" "I have gone into the matter very closely, making the most careful examination in every possible quarter; and, grieved as I am to say such words, everything points the same way. No one except yourself has had the opportunity. The whole suspicion rests upon you, and upon you alone." "I see no other possibility. If a loophole existed, no matter how improbable, I would give you the full benefit of the doubt; but absolutely none is to be found. What have you to say? Better far, from every point of view, that you should make a clean breast of the whole!" "Tell me that you have been in difficulties; that sudden temptation seized you; that your strength was inadequate to resist; that you have done wrongly, and repent—tell me so much, and I am ready to forgive. Make frank confession, and though I cannot retain you in your present post, I will see what can be done. I will do my best to give you a fair opportunity to retrieve your character. For the sake of your child, as well as for your own sake, I entreat you to confess all." "Yours ever," "J. PETERSON." The third letter was that at which Mrs. Cragg had already glanced. It ran thus:— "DEAR SIR,—" "I have received and read yours with the deepest concern, and there is now little more to be said." "Unhappily, I am unable to feel as I could wish to do about your assurances. Everything points in the one direction, and I fear there is no doubt whatever of your guilt." "Since you say that you have not done it, and declare yourself incapable of any such act, I can only reply that I sincerely wish things may be so. I have resolved not to prosecute, but it is impossible that I should keep you on in your old post. Much as I regret to have to dismiss you, after all these years that we have worked together, I have no choice." "Your next quarter's stipend will be paid in advance, but I cannot ask you to come again to the counting-house, nor can I wish to see you again. It is a sad ending to so long a friendship. The loss of the money to me personally is a minor matter. If, by-and-by, you come to a different mind, and if you are willing to make full confession, you will find me ready to act the part of a friend, and forgiveness will await you. Not, of course, re-instatement. That is impossible, for the sake of others."