“I am not surprised,” said the old lady, in the same quiet manner.

Mrs. Mudge had expected a show of astonishment, and this calmness disconcerted her.

“You are not surprised!” she retorted.  “I presume not, since you knew all about it beforehand.  That’s why you were knitting him some stockings.  Deny it, if you dare.”

“I have no disposition to deny it.”

“You haven’t!” exclaimed the questioner, almost struck dumb with this audacity.

“No,” said Aunt Lucy.  “Why should I?  There was no particular inducement for him to stay here.  Wherever he goes, I hope he will meet with good friends and good treatment.”

“As much as to say he didn’t find them here.  Is that what you mean?”

“I have no charges to bring.”

“But I have,” said Mrs. Mudge, her eyes lighting with malicious satisfaction.  “Last night you missed a ten-dollar gold piece, which you saw was stolen from you.  This morning it appears that Paul Prescott has run away.  I charge him with the theft.”

“You do not, can not believe this,” said the old lady, uneasily.

“Of course I do,” returned Mrs. Mudge, triumphantly, perceiving her advantage.  “I have no doubt of it, and when we get the boy back, he shall be made to confess it.”

Aunt Lucy looked troubled, much to the gratification of Mrs. Mudge.  It was but for a short time, however.  Rising from her seat, she stood confronting Mrs. Mudge, and said quietly, but firmly, “I have no doubt, Mrs. Mudge, you are capable of doing what you say.  I would advise you, however, to pause.  You know, as well as I do, that Paul is incapable of this theft.  Even if he were wicked enough to form the idea, he would have no need, since it was my intention to give him this money.  Who did actually steal the gold, you perhaps know better than I. Should it be necessary, I shall not hesitate to say so.  I advise you not to render it necessary.”

The threat which lay in these words was understood.  It came with the force of a sudden blow to Mrs. Mudge, who had supposed it would be no difficult task to frighten and silence Aunt Lucy.  The latter had always been so yielding in all matters relating to herself, that this intrepid championship of Paul’s interests was unlooked for.  The tables were completely turned.  Pale with rage, and a mortified sense of having been foiled with her own weapons, Mrs. Mudge left the room.

Meanwhile her husband milked the cows, and was now occupied in performing certain other duties that could not be postponed, being resolved, immediately after breakfast was over, to harness up and pursue the runaway.

“Well, did you get anything out of the old lady?” he inquired, as he came from the barn with the full milk-pails.

“She said she knew beforehand that he was going.”

“Eh!” said Mr. Mudge, pricking up his ears, “did she say where?”

“No, and she won’t.  She knit him a pair of stockings to help him off, and doesn’t pretend to deny it.  She’s taken a wonderful fancy to the young scamp, and has been as obstinate as could be ever since he has been here.”