Miss Herrick was becoming interested in spite of herself. There was something very original about her niece, she thought, and she certainly was beautiful to look at as she stood before her with the earnest look in her great dark eyes, and her high-bred manner of carrying her head. "Continue," she said, as Elizabeth paused for breath. "There is not much more to tell except that Val went out and got the things to eat. Of course we had to give them something to eat, Aunt Caroline, and we didn't like to ask the servants." "And where were the servants all this time?" "I don't exactly know." "This must be looked into. I leave you in Marie's charge when Miss Rice is not here." "I never see much of Marie," remarked Elizabeth, composedly. "You should have told me of this before. But where did you have the party? In which room?" Again there was silence. Elizabeth looked once more to Valentine for assistance, but none was forth-coming. A faint color spread over her face and she clasped her hands tightly behind her back, but she gazed steadfastly into her aunt's eyes as she replied, "In the locked room." "What do you mean?" asked Miss Herrick, not in the least comprehending. "The locked room in the third-story back buildings. The room with the padlock." "Elizabeth!" The child was frightened at the effect of her words. Miss Herrick's face grew very white. It was some minutes before she could control her voice sufficiently to speak. "Have you been there before?" she asked at last. "Yes, often," faltered the little girl. "How did you get in?" "I--I found the keys one day when I was looking for them in your little Chinese cabinet." [Illustration: "AND DO YOU CALL THIS AN HONORABLE PROCEEDING?"] "And do you call this an honorable proceeding?" "No, not so very." If Aunt Caroline would only scold her, thought Elizabeth. She was so calm. The child attempted to excuse herself. "I had wondered about that room so long, Aunt Caroline. I really did want to know something about my own family, and you and Aunt Rebecca never would tell me. I--I am very sorry." Miss Herrick did not reply. Presently she turned to Valentine. "Have you anything to say for yourself?" "Why, no, not exactly. I didn't really understand about the room. Elizabeth had been there lots of times before I came, and it was her idea about the party in the first place." "I see," said his aunt, with faint scorn in her voice; "it is merely another case, repeated from time immemorial, of 'the woman tempted me and I did eat.'" "I don't understand you, Aunt Caroline," said Elizabeth. But Valentine did understand, and he blushed scarlet. Miss Herrick, after her last remark, relapsed into thought. "There is another thing," said Elizabeth, presently; "we broke one of your plates."' "So we did," said Valentine. Then, with evident effort--"at least, I did. Elizabeth had nothing to do with it. I broke it."