Her earnest manner more than her words seemed to impress Peter Pash, and hurrying along he was the first to catch sight of the light figure they chased now standing motionless on the edge of a wharf, while the wind came mournfully sighing off the river, in whose inky breast, all blurred and half-washed-out, shone the light of star and Keziah's breath seemed drawn in deep groans, as for a few minutes she stood, as it were, paralysed. Then recovering herself, and motioning Peter back, she advanced quickly, and just as the light figure gave a start and seemed about to step forward, she threw her arms round it and held it tightly, sobbing hysterically the while. But only for a few seconds. "Here, Peter, quick," she cried, "that shawl. And were you looking for me, my pet? We've been walking. But never mind, we've found you now, and I won't leave you again. Don't talk--don't say anything, only come home quickly!" Without a word, without resistance, May Richards suffered herself to be led homeward, merely gazing from time to time at her old servant in a half-dazed way as if she could not understand the meaning of it all, nor yet why she was being led with Keziah's arm so tightly holding hers. And so they walked back to find the door in Walbrook ajar, with Tom Brough standing in the entry. "Go back now, Peter," whispered Keziah, "and not a word of this to a soul." "But what's he here for?" said Peter, in the same tone. "You miserable jealous pate," whispered the old servant fiercely, "if you don't be off--" She said no more, for Peter _was_ off, and then she turned to Mr Brough. "You may well look," she whispered to him, as he said a few unnoticed words to May. "All your doing--all your doing. Another minute, and the poor lamb would have been sleeping in the river." Tom Brough started, and then caught May in his arms, and bore her up-stairs, where for quite an hour she sat in a dazed, heedless way that troubled Keziah more than would a passionate outburst. "If she'd only cry," she whispered at last to Mr Brough, "But you won't press for it now, Mr Brough; you won't, sir, I'm sure. People say you're a good man, and that you're kind and charitable. Look at the poor thing; her heart's broke--it is indeed." "I'm going now," said Mr Brough in answer, and then when Keziah accompanied him down to the door, "Do not leave her for an instant, if you love the poor child; and, look here, Keziah, the wedding must take place, and it is for her good--_mark me_, for her good. I love her too well to make her unhappy, and if you do your duty you will help me all you can." Keziah closed the door without a word, and a minute after she was kneeling beside and crying over the heartbroken girl. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ STORY FIVE, CHAPTER SIX. HARD-HEARTED. Time glided on. "You've come again, then?" said Keziah Bay. "Yes, I've come again," said Mr Peter Pash. "Trade's very brisk, Keziah."