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which to distinguish the fellow） took off his cap to me once
more； and； with a kind of blackguard gentility upon him； said
they would have the pleasure of calling the next day； when my
father was at home。 I said good…afternoon as ungraciously as
possible； and； to my great relief； they both left the cottage
immediately afterward。
As soon as they were well away； I watched them from the door。
They trudged off in the direction of Moor Farm； and； as it was
beginning to get dusk； I soon lost sight of them。
Half an hour afterward I looked out again。
The wind had lulled with the sunset； but the mist was rising； and
a heavy rain was beginning to fall。 Never did the lonely prospect
of the moor look so dreary as it looked to my eyes that evening。
Never did I regret any slight thing more sincerely than I then
regretted the leaving of Mr。 Knifton's pocketbook in my charge。 I
cannot say that I suffered under any actual alarm； for I felt
next to certain that neither Shifty Dick nor Jerry had got a
chance of setting eyes on so small a thing as the pocketbook
while they were in the kitchen； but there was a kind of vague
distrust troubling mea suspicion of the nighta dislike of
being left by myself； which I never remember having experienced
before。 This feeling so increased after I had closed the door and
gone back to the kitchen； that； when I heard the voices of the
quarrymen as they passed our cottage on their way home to the
village in the valley below Moor Farm； I stepped out into the
passage with a momentary notion of telling them how I was
situated； and asking them for advice and protection。
I had hardly formed this idea； however； before I dismissed it。
None of the quarrymen were intimate friends of mine。 I had a
nodding acquaintance with them； and believed them to be honest
men； as times
went。 But my own common sense told me that what little knowledge
of their characters I had was by no means sufficient to warrant
me in admitting them into my confidence in the matter of the
pocketbook。 I had seen enough of poverty and poor men to know
what a terrible temptation a large sum of money is to those whose
whole lives are passed in scraping up sixpences by weary hard
work。 It is one thing to write fine sentiments in books about
incorruptible honesty； and another thing to put those sentiments
in practice when one day's work is all that a man has to set up
in the way of an obstacle between starvation and his own
fireside。
The only resource that remained was to carry the pocketbook with
me to Moor Farm； and ask permission to pass the night there。 But
I could not persuade myself that there was any real necessity for
taking such a course as this； and； if the truth must be told； my
pride revolted at the idea of presenting myself in the character
of a coward before the people at the farm。 Timidity is thought
rather a graceful attraction among ladies； but among poor women
it is something to be laughed at。 A woman with less spirit of her
own than I had； and always shall have； would have considered
twice in my situation before she made up her mind to encounter
the jokes of plowmen and the jeers of milkmaids。 As for me； I had
hardly considered about going to the farm before I despised
myself for entertaining any such notion。 〃No； no；〃 thought I； 〃I
am not the woman to walk a mile and a half through rain； and
mist； and darkness to tell a whole kitchenful of people that I am
afraid。 Come what may； here I stop till father gets back。〃
Having arrived at that valiant resolution； the first thing I did
was to lock and bolt the back and front doors； and see to the
security of every shutter in the house。
That duty performed； I made a blazing fire； lighted my candle；
and sat down to tea； as snug and comfortable as possible。 I could
hardly believe now； with the light in the room； and the sense of
security inspired by the closed doors and shutters； that I had
ever felt even the slightest apprehension earlier in the day。 I
sang as I washed up the tea…things； and even the cat seemed to
catch the infection of my good spirits。 I never knew the pretty
creature so playful as she was that evening。
The tea…things put by； I took up my knitting； and worked away at
it so long that I began at last to get drowsy。 The fire was so
bright and comforting that I could not muster resolution enough
to leave it and go to bed。 I sat staring lazily into the blaze；
with my knitting on my lapsat till the splashing of the rain
outside and the fitful； sullen sobbing of the wind grew fainter
and fainter on my ear。 The last sounds I heard before I fairly
dozed off to sleep were the cheerful crackling of the fire and
the steady purring of the cat； as she basked luxuriously in the
warm light on the hearth。 Those were the last sounds before I
fell asleep。 The sound that woke me was one loud bang at the
front door。
I started up； with my heart （as the saying is） in my mouth； with
a frightful momentary shuddering at the roots of my hairI
started up breathless； cold and motionless； waiting in the
silence I hardly knew for what； doubtful at first whether I had
dreamed about the bang at the door； or whether the blow had
really been struck on it。
In a minute or less there came a second bang； louder than the
first。 I ran out into the passage。
〃Who's there？〃
〃Let us in；〃 answered a voice； which I recognised immediately as
the voice of Shifty Dick。
〃Wait a bit； my dear； and let me explain；〃 said a second voice；
in the low； oily； jeering tones of Dick's companionthe wickedly
clever little man whom he called Jerry。 〃You are alone in the
house； my pretty little dear。 You may crack your sweet voice with
screeching； and there's nobody near to hear you。 Listen to
reason； my love； and let us in。 We don't want cider this timewe
only want a very neat…looking pocketbook which you happen to
have； and your late excellent mother's four silver teaspoons；
which you keep so nice and clean on the chimney…piece。 If you let
us in we won't hurt a hair of your head； my cherub； and we
promise to go away the moment we have got what we want； unless
you particularly wish us to stop to tea。 If you keep us out； we
shall be obliged to break into the house and then〃
〃And then；〃 burst in Shifty Dick； 〃we'll _mash_ you！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Jerry； 〃we'll mash you； my beauty。 But you won't
drive us to doing that； will you？ You will let us in？〃
This long parley gave me time to recover from the effect which
the first bang at the door had produced on my nerves。 The threats
of the two villains would have terrified some women out of their
senses； but the only result they produced on _me_ was violent
indignation。 I had； thank God； a strong spirit of my own； and the
cool； contemptuous insolence of the man Jerry effectually roused
it。
〃You cowardly villains！〃 I screamed at them through the door。
〃You think you can frighten me because I am only a poor girl left
alone in the house。 You ragamuffin thieves； I defy you both！ Our
bolts are strong； our shutters are thick。 I am here to keep my
father's house safe； and keep it I will against an army of you！〃
You may imagine what a passion I was in when I vapored an