Barbara decided, and arraying
herself in her Sunday best, she sallied forth to the vicarage.
As she crossed the little common shouts and laughter and angry chatter
fell on her ear.
A group of schoolboys, the parson's four little sons, were closing in
round a dark object.
"Why, if that isn't our Mike! I never knew the bird to go outside of Old
Studley before. What----"
"Oh, Mrs. Barbara, do come along here!" Reggie, the eldest of the four,
turned his head and beckoned her.
[Sidenote: Mike's Mishap]
"Here's a nice go! We've run your Mike in, and see his fury, do! Our
Tommy was looking for birds' eggs in the Old Studley hedge, and he saw a
shine of gold and pulled out this! And Mike chased him, madly pecking
his legs, out here to the common. And now he's fit to fly at me because
I've got his stolen goods. Look, do!"
Reggie doubled up with yells of laughter, and Mike, in a storm of fury,
shrieked himself hoarse.
But Mrs. Barbara stood dumb.
In a flash the truth had come to her.
Mike, not poor Ah Lon, was the thief. She tingled all over with
remorseful shame as she crept home with the locket in her hand.
"Oh, and we thought you had stolen it, Ah Lon dear!" Jinty confessed,
with wild weeping; but Ah Lon was placidly smoothing the precious little
picture. It was enough for her that it had come back. "Grandpapa must
know; he must be told!" went on Jinty, determined not to spare herself.
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