She believed intensely in the wickedness of the outside world, of the world which was far away from herself, and of which she never saw anything; but they who were near to her, and who had even become dear to her, or who even had been respected by her, were made, as it were, saints in her imagination.

They were brought into the inner circle, and could hardly be expelled.

She was an old woman who thought all evil of those she did not know, and all good of those whom she did know; and as she did know Mr.Crawley, she was quite sure he had not stolen Mr.Soames's twenty pounds.

She did know Mr.Soames also; and thus there was a mystery for the unravelling of which she was very anxious.

And the young Lady Lufton was equally sure, and perhaps with better reason for such certainty.