"The meaning is clear enough," replied Fred, and the concentrated expression on his face showed how busily his mind was employed; "there has been a suspicion of the horrible crime thrown upon the suffering angel upstairs. If I were only Phoebe's lover, Aunt Leth, I should be in a fury of rage at the wicked accusation; but I am her champion and her defender, and I must keep my feelings well under control, or I shall not be able to serve her. Some devilish plot has been invented, and we must meet it. Phoebe, by her actions last night and this morning, even by the state in which she now lies, unfortunately gives some colour to the vile, infernal accusation. Everything depends upon coolness. Such strange cases are being daily brought to light that the public are ready to believe anything. Now tell me: what was Phoebe's motive in leaving last night for Parksides without first letting you know?" "I can only guess at it, Fred; but I am sure it is the truth. We were in the most dreadful trouble--I thought nothing worse could happen to us, but I was mistaken; this is a thousand times more terrible!" "Don't give way, Aunt Leth. Remember what I said: everything depends upon coolness. I know of your trouble, and that you are, thank God! out of it; it was a money trouble, and the money is paid." "Yes, Fred; but how did you know?" "Never mind; go on about Phoebe." "We were sitting in the dark, talking and mourning over it. My husband was in despair. There was only one way to prevent ruin, and that was to obtain a sum of money at once--it was three hundred pounds, Fred; a fortune--and we saw no way. So we sat talking, and trying to console each other. Suddenly I missed Phoebe; she had left the room so quietly that we did not observe it. A little while afterward 'Melia Jane told us that she had met Phoebe, who had given her a message to us that she had gone to Parksides to see her father. There was but one reason for her doing this; it was to try and obtain the money from her father that would prevent us being turned into the streets. She must have left us just as my husband was saying that as he walked to the bank he had a dream of hope, and that an angel had come forward to save us. Then, I suppose, the idea occurred to our dear girl to go to her father and entreat him to help us. If she had spoken to me first, I should have convinced her of the impossibility of her errand meeting with success." "You have placed the right construction upon her leaving unknown to you. She felt that if you suspected her intention she would be unable to carry it out. When you put her to bed this morning did you search her pockets?" "Yes, Fred; and I hoped to find something that would clear up the mystery. I found nothing." "You found something," said Fred. "Her handkerchief, her purse?" "Yes, of course, those; and her gloves." "She was not wearing them, then?" "No." "Was there any money in her purse?" "Not one penny, Fred."