“Oh, I don’t want to take your money, ma’am,” he said apologetically.  “You must excuse my not believing you, but it did seem a rum start.”

“You are quite right, constable,” she replied.  “The circumstances were suspicious, and you only did your duty.  However, you might have made it very unpleasant for me if you had chosen to take me to the lockup instead of bringing me here, and I am very willing to give you what I promised you.  I can afford it very well,” she said cheerfully, as he still hesitated, “and I dare say it will be useful to you.”

The man took the money and touched his hat, and sat quiet until the door opened, and Mr. Withers in a dressing-gown and holding a candle appeared.

“You have done quite right in bringing the lady up here,” Mr. Withers said; “but you need not go talking about it in the village.”

“Very well, sir; I will say nothing about it.  Good-night, sir.  Good-night ma’am.”

“My dear Mrs. Conway, what has happened to bring you here at this hour of the night?” Mr. Withers asked as he closed the door behind.  “Did I understand you to say that you have got it?  Is it possible that you have found the will?”

“Quite possible, Mr. Withers.  Here it is in its envelope, with the seals unbroken.”

“You astound me!” Mr. Withers exclaimed.  At this moment Mrs. Withers made her appearance at the top of the stairs, her husband having briefly said as he hurried out of the room that it was Mrs. Conway.

“Amy,” he said, “here is Mrs. Conway.  And, what do you think? she has brought the missing will with her.”

With an exclamation Mrs. Withers ran downstairs and threw her arms round Mrs. Conway.  “You dear brave creature,” she said, “I have been longing to speak to you for the last six months.  It seems so unnatural your being close to us, and my not being able to see you, And you have really found the will?  I can hardly believe it.  How has it all come about?”

“Don’t bother her, Amy,” Mr. Withers said; for now that the excitement was past Mrs. Conway was trembling all over, and was scarcely able to keep her feet.  “She is overtired and overexcited.  Take her straight up to the spare room and get her to bed.  I will make her a tumbler of hot port wine and water.  The water is sure to be warm in the kitchen, and a stick or two will make it boil by the time she is ready for it.  We will hear all about it in the morning.  We have got the will safe, and we have got her; that is quite enough for us for to-night, all the rest will keep very well until to-morrow.”

In a few minutes Mrs. Conway was in bed, and after drinking the tumbler of hot negus Mr. Withers had prepared for her she soon fell asleep.

Mrs. Withers came into the room early in the morning.  “My husband says you are not to think of getting up unless you feel quite equal to it, and I agree with him; so if you like I will bring breakfast up to you, and then you can go off to sleep again for a bit.”