Mulready said querulously. "You know how I hate to have the
room untidy after I have dressed.
"Why, what's the matter?". she broke off sharply as she noticed
Abijah's face. "Why, you have been crying!"
"Yes, ma'am, I have been crying," Abijah said unsteadily, "but I
don't know as ever I shall cry again, for I have heard such good
news as will last me the rest of my whole life."
"What news, Abijah?" Mrs. Mulready asked quickly. "What are you
making a mystery about, and what is that paper in your hand?"
"Well, ma'am, God has been very good to us all. I knew as he would
be sooner or later, though sometimes I began to doubt whether it
would be in my time, and it did break my heart to see Maister Ned
going about so pale and unnatural like for a lad like him, and to
know as there was people as thought that he was a murderer. And
now, thank God, it is all over."
"All over! what do you mean, Abijah?" Mrs. Mulready exclaimed,
rising suddenly from her invalid chair.
"What do you mean by saying that it is all over?" and she seized
the old nurse's arm with an eager grasp.
"Don't excite yourself so, mistress. You have been sore tried, but
it is over now, and today all the world will know as Maister Ned is
proved to be innocent. This here paper is a copy of the confession
of the man as did it, and who is, they say, dead by this time. It
was taken all right and proper afore a magistrate.
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