As far as I could ascertain, nothing had been taken away. The movements of the red-haired girl were not those of one who sought to pilfer. They seemed to me rather those of one not in her right mind; and on this supposition I made inquiries in the neighbourhood as to the existence in our street, in any of the adjoining houses, of a person wanting in her wits, who was suffered to run about at will. But I could obtain no information that at all threw light on a point to me so perplexing. Hitherto I had not mentioned the topic to my husband. I knew so well that I should obtain no help from him, that I made no effort to seek it. He would "Pish!" and "Pshaw!" and make some slighting reference to women's intellects, and not further trouble himself about the matter. But one day, to my great astonishment, he referred to it himself. "Julia," said he, "do you observe how I have cut myself in shaving?" "Yes, dear," I replied. "You have cotton-wool sticking to your jaw, as if you were growing a white whisker on one side." "It bled a great deal," said he. "I am sorry to hear it." "And I mopped up the blood with the new toilet-cover." "Never!" I exclaimed. "You haven't been so foolish as to do that?" "Yes. And that is just like you. You are much more concerned about your toilet-cover being stained than about my poor cheek which is gashed." "You were very clumsy to do it," was all I could say. Married people are not always careful to preserve the amenities in private life. It is a pity, but it is so. "It was due to no clumsiness on my part," said he; "though I do allow my nerves have been so shaken, broken, by married life, that I cannot always command my hand, as was the case when I was a bachelor. But this time it was due to that new, stupid, red-haired servant you have introduced into the house without consulting me or my pocket." "Red-haired servant!" I echoed. "Yes, that red-haired girl I have seen about. She thrusts herself into my study in a most offensive and objectionable way. But the climax of all was this morning, when I was shaving. I stood in my shirt before the glass, and had lathered my face, and was engaged on my right jaw, when that red-haired girl rushed between me and the mirror with both her elbows up, screening her face with her arms, and her head bowed. I started back, and in so doing cut myself." "Where did she come from?" "How can I tell? I did not expect to see anyone." "Then where did she go?" "I do not know; I was too concerned about my bleeding jaw to look about me. That girl must be dismissed." "I wish she could be dismissed," I said. "What do you mean?" I did not answer my husband, for I really did not know what answer to make.