‘Well, I am glad!’ said Mrs. King; ’I didn’t think that poor lad would have held out much longer, winter weather and all.  But how did my Lady come to hear of it?’

’Oh, it seems she noticed him going to church in all his rags, and Mr. Cope told her who he was; so Miss Jane came and asked me all about him, and I told her what a fine scholar he is, and how shamefully the farmer and Boldre treat him, and how good he was to Alfred about the ointment, and how steady he is.  And I told her about the boys dressing him up yesterday, and how he wouldn’t take a gift.  She listened just as if it was a story, and she ran away to her grandmamma, and presently came back to say that the boy was to come up to-morrow after his work, for Lady Jane to speak to him.’

‘Well, at least, he has been washed once,’ said Mrs. King; ’but he’s so queer; I hope he will have no fancies, and will behave himself.’

‘I’ll tackle him,’ declared Harold decidedly.  ’I’ve a great mind to go out this moment and tell him.’

Mrs. King prevented this; she persuaded Harold that Mrs. Shepherd would fly out at them if she heard any noise in the yard, and that it would be better for every one to let Paul alone till the morning.

Morning came, and as soon as Harold was dressed, he rushed to the farm-yard, but he could not find Paul anywhere, and concluded that he had been sent out with the cows, and would be back by breakfast-time.

As soon as he had brought home the post-bag, he dashed across the road again, but came back in a few moments, looking beside himself.

‘He’s gone!’ he said, and threw himself back in a chair.

‘Gone!’ cried Mrs. King and Ellen with one voice, quite aghast.

‘Gone!’ repeated Harold.  ’The farmer hunted him off this morning!  Missus will have it that he’s been stealing her eggs, and that there was a lantern in the stable on Friday night; so they told him to be off with him, and he’s gone!’

’Poor, poor boy! just when my Lady would have been the making of him!’ cried Ellen.

‘But where—­which way is he gone?’ asked Mrs. King.

‘I might ride after him, and overtake him,’ cried Harold, starting up, ’but I never thought to ask!  And Mrs. Shepherd was ready to pitch into me, so I got away as soon as I could.  Do you run over and ask, Ellen; you always were a favourite.’

They were in such an eager state, that Ellen at once sprang up, and hastily throwing on her bonnet, ran across the road, and tapped at Mrs. Shepherd’s open door, exclaiming breathlessly, ’O Ma’am, I beg your pardon, but will you tell me where Paul Blackthorn is gone?’

‘Paul Blackthorn! how should I know?’ said Mrs. Shepherd crossly.  ’I’m not to be looking after thieves and vagabonds.  He’s a come-by-chance, and he’s a go-by-chance, and a good riddance too!’

‘Oh but, Ma’am, my Lady wanted to speak to him.’

This only made Mrs. Shepherd the more set against the poor boy.