If she had, I should have given her a piece of my mind that she wouldn't have forgot, in a hurry." "I can quite understand your feelings, Mrs.Whitney," the schoolmaster said, "and I have no doubt I should have acted as you did, if a son of mine had been suspected in the same way.

Still, I think it's a pity; for if Reuben had stayed here, there would have been more chance of the matter being cleared up.

However, we won't talk about that now.

Now tell me, what are your plans ?" Mrs.Whitney told her visitors what she had determined upon.

As Lewes was only four miles off, the schoolmaster said that he and his wife would sometimes come over to see her; and that he hoped that Reuben, whatever trade he was apprenticed to, would still go on with his studies.