Here everything was in disorder; chairs were thrown about; books lay all over the floor with their leaves fluttered open; window drapings were shaken out of their usual prim folds; the piano cover lay in the middle of the room; and at the instant of their entrance Aunt Hattie was on her knees tearing frantically at the edge of the carpet. She turned a red and disheveled countenance toward them. “Come and help me with this,” said she shortly. “For what are you tearing up the carpet?” asked Marjy. Auntie stopped her work, and dropped on to her knees staring blankly. “Looking for the money, ninny!” she ejaculated in a tone of intense disgust. “But Auntie, you put it in the safe!” She looked bewildered for a moment, then said fatuously, “Did I? I thought perhaps I hid it under the carpet. Oh, yes; I remember! Henry had the combination; there wasn’t any one knew it except you two,” she finished angrily. Marjy turned a reproachful glance on Henry, who stood looking angrily at auntie; she returned an equally angry gaze. “I do not think it kind of you to play such tricks upon me; give me back the money, and have done with such foolishness!” said she. “Do you really think that I took your money?” he questioned hotly. “Of course! There was no one else knew the combination but you——” “Oh, confound that combination! I’ve heard it until I’m sick of it! Your niece knew it as well as I—why not suspect her? She was in the house, I was not!” “Yes, that’s so! Marjy did you take it?” fatuously. Marjy gave Henry a withering look: “What nonsense!” she cried. “Well, some one took it!” gloomily iterated auntie, as she continued to lift up books, and flutter open papers. “You had best have a detective look into the matter,” said Marjy coldly. “Oh, not for the world! I wouldn’t be so disgraced!” cried auntie excitedly. “I do not see how you are to ascertain the truth otherwise,” remarked Henry. “Oh, dear! I wouldn’t care so much for the money—though it’s too much to lose—but to have to suspect those in whom we have placed so much confidence, and one’s very own, is awful!” wailed Aunt Hattie, not very lucidly. Henry frowned angrily, then Marjy shot him a disdainful glance, and Aunt Hattie glared reproachfully at both. Henry turned abruptly, lifting his hat in a sudden access of politeness; “I bid you a very good day; if you wish to arrest me, you will find me in my room, two doors away; or in my office on Tremont Street,” saying which he strode angrily away. Marjy ran up to her room and locked herself in, despite her aunt’s shrill cry: “Come here, Marjy, and help me to look for that money! Oh, I must find it, it cannot be lost!”