And, with that, he buttoned his coat, and bowed himself out, the Squire himself attending him to the door. "He is as much like a detective as I'm like a Dutchman," commented Tod. "At least, according to what have been all my previous notions of one. Live and learn." "He seems quite a polished man, has quite the manners of society," added the mater. "I do hope he will get back my poor earring." "Mother, is Lucy Bird in more trouble than usual?" I asked. "She is no doubt in deep distress of some kind, Johnny. But she is never out of it. I wish Robert Ashton could induce her to leave that most worthless husband of hers!" The Squire, after watching off the visitor, came in, rubbing his hands and looking as delighted as old Punch. He assumed that the earring was as good as restored, and was immensely taken with Mr. Eccles. "A most intelligent, superior man," cried he. "I suppose he is what is called a gentleman-detective: he told me he had been to college. I'm sure it seems quite a condescension in him to work with Cripp and the rest." And the whole of tea-time and all the way to church, the praises were being rung of Mr. Eccles. I'm not sure but that he was more to us that night than the sermon. "I confess I feel mortified about that woman, though," confessed Mrs. Todhetley. "You heard him say that she was as good as taken: they must have traced the earring to her. I did think she was one to be trusted. How one may be deceived in people!" "I'd have trusted her with a twenty-pound note, mother." "Hark at Johnny!" cried Tod. "This will be a lesson for you, lad." * * * * * Monday morning. The Squire and Tod had gone over to South Crabb. Mrs. Todhetley sat at the window, adding up some bills, her nose red with the cold: and I was boxing Hugh's ears, for he was in one of his frightfully troublesome moods, when Molly came stealing in at the door, as covertly as if she had been committing murder. "Ma'am! ma'am!--there's that tramp in the yard!" "What?" cried the mater, turning round. "I vow it's her; I know the old red shawl again," pursued Molly, with as much importance as though she had caught half the thieves in Christendom. "She turned into the yard as bold as brass; so I just slipped the bolt o' the door against her, and come away. You'll have her took up on the instant, ma'am, won't you?" "But if she has come back, I don't think she can be guilty," cried Mrs. Todhetley, after a bewildered pause. "We had better see what she wants. What do you say, Johnny?" "Why, of course we had. I'll go to her, as Molly's afraid."