But Nancy denied having touched the money; _what if, after
all, she had spoken the truth!_ She had always been particularly
truthful in even the smallest matters. Mrs. Forest would try not to
think any more; it was too painful. She would reach down her knitting
and try to "do" a bit.
She rose and took down the half-knit stocking, but the spare needle was
missing. She felt with her hand upon the chimney-piece, but could not
find it. Then she mounted a chair and searched. It was nowhere to be
seen. "It may have slipped into the nick at the back," she thought, and
she got a skewer and poked it into the narrow groove. Out fell the
needle--and something else which made a clinking sound as it fell upon
the brick floor. She stooped to see what it was, _and there glittering
in the firelight lay the missing half-sovereign_.
* * * * *
When Fred Hurst had seen Messrs. Hermann and Scheiner, he was in the
highest possible spirits: a whole future seemed to open out before him.
It may appear that Fred was conceited, and "too sure;" but we must
record that he went to a jeweller's and bought a little pearl ring for
Nancy, meaning to place it on her third finger next day when her lips
should have given him the promise he knew her heart had long since
given. Having made his purchase he took train from Liverpool Street to
Exboro', from which place he would have to walk to Shenton, where he
could not arrive until one o'clock in the morning.
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