George Fielding went to Australia to make L1,000, and by industry, sobriety, and cattle, he did not make L1,000; but, with the help of a converted thief, he did by gold-digging, industry, and sobriety, make several thousand pounds, and take them safe away home, spite of many wicked devices and wicked men.

Mr. Meadows flung out Peter Crawley, his left hand, into Australia to keep George from coming back to Susan with L1,000, and his left hand failed, and failed completely.  But his right hand?

IV.—­George Fielding’s Return

One market day a whisper passed through Farnborough that George Fielding had met with wonderful luck.  That he had made his fortune by gold, and was going to marry a young lady out in Australia.  Farmer Merton brought the whisper home; Meadows was sure he would.

When eight months had elapsed without a letter from George, Susan could no longer deceive herself with hopes.  George was either false to her or dead.  She said as much to Meadows, and this inspired him with the idea of setting about a report that George was dead.  Susan’s mind had long been prepared for bitter tidings, and when old Merton tried in a clumsy way to prepare her for sad news, she fixed her eyes on him, and said, “Father, George is dead.”

Old Merton hung his head, and made no reply.  Susan crept from the room pale as ashes.

Then Meadows contradicted this report, and showed a letter he had received, saying that “George Fielding was married yesterday to one of the prettiest girls in Sydney.  I met them walking in the street to-day.”

“He is alive!” Susan said.  “Thank God he is alive.  I will not cry for another woman’s husband.”

It was not pique that made Susan accept John Meadows, it was to save her father from ruin.  She said plainly that she could not pretend affection, and that it was only her indifference that made her consent.  She tried to give happiness, and to avoid giving pain, but her heart of hearts was inaccessible.

The return of Crawley with the news that Fielding and Robinson were at hand, drove Meadows to persuade Susan to hasten the marriage.  The following Monday had been fixed, Susan agreed to let it take place the preceding Thursday.

The next thing was Meadows himself recognised Fielding and Robinson; they were staying the night at the King’s Head, in Farnborough, where Meadows was taking a glass of ale.  He promptly decided on his game.  The travellers called for hot brandy-and-water, and while the waiter left it for a moment, Meadows dropped the contents of a certain white paper into the liquor.  In the dead of night he left his bedroom, and crept to the room where Robinson slept.  The drug had done its work.  Meadows found L7,000 under the sleeper’s pillow, and carried the notes off undetected.

He returned in the early morning to his own house, he explained to Crawley why he had done this.  “Don’t you see that I have made George Fielding penniless, and that now old Merton won’t let him have his daughter.  He can’t marry her at all now, and when the writ is served on old Merton he will be as strong as fire for me and against George Fielding.  I am not a thief, and the day I marry Susan L7,000 will be put in George Fielding’s hand; he won’t know by whom, but you and I shall know.  I am a sinner, but not a villain.”