"Now," he asked, his voice growing stern once more, "know you where aught o' the forbidden stuff be kept, or if there still be any in the house?" Tyntie went silently to the store-closet and fetched a sizable can of burnished copper. This she opened and held toward her master and young mistress, who saw that it was nearly half filled with the prohibited tea. Joseph Devereux scowled fiercely as he beheld this tangible evidence of Penine's bad faith and selfishness. "Do you take that in your own hands, Tyntie, as soon as may be," he said; "or no--take it this instant, down to the beach, and throw it, can and all, into the water. And see to it that you make mention o' this matter to no one." Then turning slowly, he took his way again to the front of the house, Dorothy following in silence, and feeling unwontedly awed by the apprehension of the storm she felt was about to break; for it was a rare matter indeed for Aunt Penine to be the one entirely at fault in anything. CHAPTER X Dorothy saw Mary Broughton on the porch outside and was about to join her, when Mary turned and called out, "Aunt Penine is waiting to see your father." At this Dorothy retraced her steps to the library, where she had left her father sitting in moody silence, tracing with his stick invisible writings upon the floor, the iron ferule making angry clickings against the oaken polish. He made no reply to the message she gave him; so, after pausing a moment, she said again that her aunt was awaiting him. "Yes, yes, child; I hear ye," he replied almost impatiently, and as though not wishing to be disturbed. Dorothy said nothing more, but went out and joined Mary, who was waiting on the porch; and, arm in arm, they strolled out into the sunshiny morning. They had gone but a little way when Dorothy's sharp eyes spied Pashar coming from a side door of the house. His black hand held something white, which he was thrusting into the pocket of his jacket. She called to him sharply, and he turned his head in her direction, while his eyes rolled restlessly. But he made no movement to come to her, and stood motionless, as though awaiting her orders. "Come here!" she called peremptorily; but still he hesitated. "Do you come here this instant, Pashar, as I bid you," she commanded, now taking a few steps toward him. At this he came forward, but in a halting way, and at length stood before her, looking very ill at ease. "Give me that letter," Dorothy demanded, extending her hand for it. "Mist'ess Penine done say--" he began in a hesitating, remonstrative fashion; but Dorothy cut him short. "Give me that letter," she repeated, stamping her small foot, "or you'll be sorry!" Trained like a dumb beast to obedience, the negro boy fumbled in his pocket and took out a folded paper which he handed to his imperious young mistress.