As they were turning the corner of the lane they overtook Phyllis and Adeline on their way to the school with some work, and Emily stopped the carriage, to desire them to send off a letter which she had left on the chimney-piece in the schoolroom.  Then proceeding to Raynham, they made their visits, paid Emily’s debts, performed their commissions, and met the carriage again at the bookseller’s shop, at the end of about two hours.

‘Look here, Emily!’ exclaimed Jane.  ’Read this! can it be Mrs. Aylmer?’

‘The truly charitable,’ said Emily, contemptuously.  ’Mrs. Aylmer is above—­’

’But read.  It says “unbeneficed clergyman and deceased nobleman,” and who can that be but Uncle Rotherwood and Mr. Aylmer.’

‘Well, let us see,’ said Emily, ‘those things are always amusing.’

It was an appeal to the ‘truly charitable,’ from the friends of the widow of an unbeneficed clergyman of the diocese, one of whose sons had, it was said, by the kindness of a deceased nobleman, received the promise of an appointment in India, of which he was unable to avail himself for want of the funds needful for his outfit.  This appeal was, it added, made without the knowledge of the afflicted lady, but further particulars might be learnt by application to E. F., No. 5 West Street, Raynham.

’E.  F. is plainly that bustling, little, old Miss Fitchett, who wrote to papa for some subscription,’ said Emily.  ’You know she is a regular beggar, always doing these kind of things, but I can never believe that Mrs. Aylmer would consent to appear in this manner.’

‘Ah! but it says without her knowledge,’ said Jane.  ’Don’t you remember Rotherwood’s lamenting that they were forgotten?’

‘Yes, it is shocking,’ said Emily; ’the clergyman that married papa and mamma!’

‘Ask Mr. Adam what he knows,’ said Jane.

Emily accordingly applied to the bookseller, and learnt that Mrs. Aylmer was indeed the person intended.  ‘Something must be done,’ said she, returning to Jane.  ‘Our name will be a help.’

‘Speak to Aunt Rotherwood,’ said Jane.  ’Or suppose we apply to Miss Fitchett, we should have time to drive that way.’

‘I am sure I shall not go to Miss Fitchett,’ said Emily, ’she only longs for an excuse to visit us.  What can you be thinking of?  Lend me your pencil, Jenny, if you please.’

And Emily wrote down, ‘Miss Mohun, 5 pounds,’ and handed to the bookseller all that she possessed towards paying her just debts to Lilias.  While she was writing, Jane had turned towards the window, and suddenly exclaiming, ‘There is Ben!  Oh! that gunpowder!’ darted out of the shop.  She had seen the groom on horseback, and the next moment she was asking breathlessly, ‘Is it Maurice?’

’No, Miss Jane; but Miss Ada is badly burnt, and Master Maurice sent me to fetch Mr. Saunders.’

‘How did it happen?’

’I can’t say, Miss; the schoolroom has been on fire, and Master Maurice said the young ladies had got at the gunpowder.’