"That she is, sur, bliss yer kind hearrt! If you'd lave me be, sur, I'd--hic--tak' down the high looks av her, an' that hussy, Jane, too. But I got good an' even wid _hur_!" "What did you do to Jane?" inquired her captor, who was gently shoving his prize up the stairs. "Don't you know, sur? an' you that shmart in your business? _She's_ 'asy fooled! Sure, an' I changed things about a bit in the house; that's all I done." "Ah-ha! Very clever of you, Mary. You put the missis's things in Jane's room--eh? Good joke that!" Miss MacGrotty laughed hysterically. "She ain't found 'em all yit," she whispered. "Tell her to look between the mattresses av the bed." "Thanks for the information, old girl!" observed Mr. Belknap genially. And having arrived at his destination, namely, the apartment occupied by Miss MacGrotty, he gently deposited his charge within; then shut and locked the door upon her. "She'll sleep it off before morning," he told his wife reassuringly; "then I'll see that she leaves the house peaceably. I told you she was a fraud, dear. But never mind, better luck next time. As for Jack, I do hope he'll find that poor girl for the sake of the family peace of mind." "I--I hope so too, Jimmy; only----" "Don't worry about Jack," advised her husband. "He's too level-headed to rush into matrimony merely because he's sorry to see a girl treated unjustly." "But, Jimmy dear," protested his wife, "I don't see what I could have done. There were the things--in her trunk." Mr. Belknap shook his head. "It's pretty hard on a little woman when she's suddenly called upon to act as prosecuting lawyer, judge, jury and all," he said sympathetically. "But I think you were a bit hasty, dear. You might have suspended judgment, as they say, considering the defendant's general character." "Yes, I really ought to have known better, I suppose," agreed Mrs. Belknap meekly. "But I can't help being afraid that Jack is more than sorry for Jane. And, Jimmy, she's _only a servant_--even if she is honest, and yes--I will acknowledge it--pretty." "Talk about our glorious American democracy!" groaned her husband in mock dismay. "Well, I'll put it straight to you, Jimmy Belknap; would _you_ like Jane Evelyn Aubrey-Blythe for a sister-in-law?" "Hum! That depends," said Jimmy Belknap, with a conservative grin. "But I say, Margaret, let's see what we can do about that dinner I seem to smell burning on the range." While these important events were transpiring in the Belknap household, Mr. John Everett was having divers and sundry experiences of his own. As he plunged down the street in the fast-gathering darkness of the spring night he was conscious of but one desire, and that was to find Jane. Having found her, he knew definitely that he meant never to lose sight of her again. This much was certain, and the fine, drizzling rain which presently began to fall did not serve to dampen his resolution.