"You have convinced me, my dear, that Chang-how is the guilty party; but the idea I meant to convey before you knocked me down with those big words was this--that Anarky, knowing what people think of the Chinese, indulges her dishonest yearnings, believing we shall suppose the thief to be Chang-how." "But I know it _isn't_ Anarky, because Anarky always had a blundering, awkward, above-board way of stealing that made it only _taking_ things, and she was always getting caught; and Chang-how always manages not to be found out. And I know it is Chang-how; I know it by that. It shows he is used to it." Mr. Smith laughed. "It does! and I know it _is_ Chang-how and it _isn't_ Anarky." Then Mr. Smith laughed again, and said women were born to be lawyers. Chang-how would come to me (he was dining-room servant, you remember): "Evly one spoonee no come homee." "How you mean, Chang-how? Where spoonee go?" "All no light: all longee. Spoonee go 'way: I no find him." "Oh, but you must find them, Chang-how. How many go?" "Four spoonee." "But they are solid silver! You really must find them." "You tell where lookee, I go lookee." "I am sure I don't know were you are to look. And two forks were missing last week!" I stared reflectively at a June-bug on the window-sill. Chang-how stood with folded hands and drooping shoulders, a seraphic calm upon his features, as of one who had stood upon the burning deck when all but he had fled. Evidently he had done his duty. I was so impressed with this fact, and that the responsibility, if not the guilt, was now mine, that I simply said, "Go set the table then, Chang-how. Mr. Smith will have to tell us what to do when he comes home." Exit Chang. Enter Anarky: "Mis' Maud, how many hank'chers you sent out dis week?" "Twenty-three, I believe." "An' now I ain't got but nineteen. You see dat? How many socks for Mas' Jim?" "Six or seven, I suppose. Why?" "You see dat again? Ain't but fo' par lef'! Ef I don't beat him, shoze I'm a nigger!" "Your Mas' Jim?" I asked, smiling. "'Tain't nobody but dat yaller varmint dat's stealin' roun' de lot.--Lor'! Lor'! ef I jes' could cotch him!" "Anarky, while we are talking about it, I--I really wish you would manage a little better about the biscuit and--well, the eggs, and--and a good many little things of the kind. I am sure we have an abundance of everything, and it mortifies me exceedingly not to have it at table. Haven't you and Chang everything you want, and as much?" "We gits more'n 'nuff. An' what goes outen de kitchen goes correc'. Whar dey lands 'tween dar an' de din'-room don't nobody know but dat yaller dorg. I misses things cornstant--things dat I ain't took my eyes off 'em, 'cep' ter wink; an', bless de Lord! while I wor a-winkin' de lard done took to its heels or de flour flewed away."