’Winterfoundhiswaybacktohismother’sashehadcome，andbeingdog-tired，creptupstairstobed，hidingtheboxtillhecoulddestroyitscontents。Thenextmorningearlyhesetaboutdoingthis，andcarriedittothelinhayatthebackofhismother’sdwelling。Herebythehearthheopenedthebox，andbeganburningonebyonethelettersthathadcosthimsomuchlabourtowriteandshametothinkof，meaningtoreturntheboxtoHarriet，afterrepairingtheslightdamagehehadcauseditbyopeningitwithoutakey，withanote——thelastshewouldeverreceivefromhim——tellinghertriumphantlythatinrefusingtoreturnwhathehadaskedforshehadcalculatedtoosurelyuponhissubmissiontoherwhims。
’Butonremovingthelastletterfromtheboxhereceivedashock；
forunderneathit，attheverybottom，laymoney——severalgoldenguineas——“DoubtlessHarriet’spocket-money，“hesaidtohimself；
thoughitwasnot，butMrs。Palmley’s。Beforehehadgotoverhisqualmsatthisdiscoveryheheardfootstepscomingthroughthehouse-
passagetowherehewas。Inhastehepushedtheboxandwhatwasinitundersomebrushwoodwhichlayinthelinhay；butJackhadbeenalreadyseen。Twoconstablesenteredtheout-house，andseizedhimashekneltbeforethefireplace，securingthework-boxandallitcontainedatthesamemoment。Theyhadcometoapprehendhimonachargeofbreakingintothedwelling-houseofMrs。Palmleyonthenightpreceding；andalmostbeforetheladknewwhathadhappenedtohimtheywereleadinghimalongthelanethatconnectsthatendofthevillagewiththisturnpike-road，andalongtheymarchedhimbetween’emallthewaytoCasterbridgejail。