“Well, Jacobs,” said he, with sudden familiarity, “you seem uncommon pleased, and I am content.  I would rather have gone to California; but any place is better than England.  Laugh those who win.  I shall breathe a delicious climate; you will make yourself as happy as a prince, that is to say, miserable, upon fifteen shillings and two colds a week; my sobriety and industry will realize a fortune under a smiling sun.  Let chaps that never saw the world, and the beautiful countries there are in it, snivel at leaving this island of fogs and rocks and taxes and nobs, the rich man’s paradise, the poor man’s—­I never swear, it’s vulgar.”

While he was crushing his captors with his eloquence, George and Susan came together from the house; George’s face betrayed wonder and something akin to horror.

“A thief!” cried he.  “Have I taken the hand of a thief?”

“It is a business like any other,” said Robinson deprecatingly.

“If you have no shame I have; I long to be gone now.”

“George!” whined the culprit, who, strange to say, had become attached to the honest young farmer.  “Did ever I take tithe of you?  You have got a silver candle cup, a heavenly old coffee-pot, no end of spoons double the weight those rogues the silversmiths make them now; they are in a box under your bed in your room,” added he, looking down.  “Count them, they are all right; and Miss Merton, your bracelet, the gold one with the cameo:  I could have had it a hundred times.  Miss Merton, ask him to shake hands with me at parting.  I am so fond of him, and perhaps I shall never see him again.

“Shake hands with you?” answered George sternly; “if your hands were loose I doubt I should ram my fist down your throat; but there, you are not worth a thought at such a time, and you are a man in trouble, and I am another.  I forgive you, and I pray Heaven I may never see your face again.”

And Honesty turned his back in Theft’s face.

Robinson bit his lip and said nothing, but his eyes glistened; just then a little boy and girl, who had been peering about mighty curious, took courage and approached hand in hand.  The girl was the speaker, as a matter of course.

“Farmer Fielding,” said she curtsying, a mode of reverence which was instantly copied by the boy, “we are come to see the thief; they say you have caught one.  Oh, dear!” (and her bright little countenance was overcast), “I couldn’t have told it from a man!”

We don’t know all that is in the hearts of the wicked.  Robinson was observed to change color at these silly words.

“Mr. Jacobs,” said he, addressing the policeman, “have you authority to put me in the pillory before trial?” He said this coldly and sternly; and then added, “Perhaps you are aware that I am a man, and I might say a brother, for you were a thief, you know!” Then changing his tone entirely, “I say, Jacobs,” said he, with cheerful briskness, “do you remember cracking the silversmith’s shop in Lambeth along with Jem Salisbury and Black George, and—­”