"Well, it was a capital find, Miss Betty; one to be proud of," answered Sam, settling to his work. For some little time nothing was heard but the scratching of Mr. Dene's pen and the clicking of Miss Betty's scissors. Her task was nearing completion. A few minutes more, and the last click was given, the last bit of the braid was off. "And I'm glad of it," cried she aloud, flinging the end of the curtain on the top of the rest. "This braid will do again for something or other," considered Miss Betty, as she began to wind it upon an old book. "It was put on fresh only three or four years ago. Well brushed, it will look almost like new." Again Susan opened the door. "Miss Betty, here's the man come with the chintz: five or six rolls of it for you to choose from," cried she. "Shall he come in here?" Miss Betty was about to say Yes, but stopped and said No, instead. The commotion of holding up the chintzes to the light, to judge of their different merits, might disturb Mr. Dene; and she knew better than to interrupt business. "Let him take them to the room where they are to hang, Susan; we can judge best there." Tossing the braid to Susan, who stood waiting at the door, Miss Betty hastily took up her curtains, and Susan held the door open for her mistress to pass through. Choosing chintz for window-curtains takes some time; as everybody knows whose fancy is erratic. And how long Miss Betty and Susan and the young man from the chintz-mart had been doubting and deciding and doubting again, did not quite appear, when Captain Cockermuth's voice was heard ascending from below. "Betty! Are you upstairs, Betty?" "Yes, I'm here," she called back, crossing to the door to speak. "Do you want me, Charles?" "Where have you put the box?" "What box?" "The box of guineas." "It is on the table." "It is not on the table. I can't see it anywhere." "It was on the table when I left the parlour. I did not touch it. Ask Mr. Dene where it is: I left him there." "Mr. Dene's not here. I wish you'd come down." "Very well; I'll come in a minute or two," concluded Miss Betty, going back to the chintzes. "Why, I saw that box on the table as I shut the door after you had come out, ma'am," observed Susan, who had listened to the colloquy. "So did I," said Miss Betty; "it was the very last thing my eyes fell on. If young Mr. Dene finished what he was about and left the parlour, I dare say he put the box up somewhere for safety. I think, Susan, we must fix upon this light pea-green with the rosebuds running up it. It matches the paper: and the light coming through it takes quite a nice shade." A little more indecision yet; and yet a little more, as to whether the curtains should be lined, or not, and then Miss Cockermuth went downstairs. The captain was pacing the passage to and fro impatiently. "Now then, Betty, where's my box?"