I was just about to shake hands with them all, previous to my final departure from their presence, when the Boots came into the room.
“I’ll leave the portmanteau till to-morrow morning,” said he.
“All right,” said I.
“Because,” said he, “there will be such a crowd of things in the hall. The big trunk I will take away now.”
“Big trunk,—what big trunk?”
“The trunk with your rug over it, on which your portmanteau stood.”
I looked round at Mr., Mrs., and Miss Greene, and saw that they were all looking at me. I looked round at them, and as their eyes met mine I felt that I turned as red as fire. I immediately jumped up and rushed away to my own room, hearing as I went that all their steps were following me. I rushed to the inner recess, pulled down the portmanteau, which still remained in its old place, tore away my own carpet rug which covered the support beneath it, and there saw—a white canvas-covered box, with a hole in the canvas on the side next to me!
“It is my box,” said Mrs. Greene, pushing me away, as she hurried up and put her finger within the rent.
“It certainly does look like it,” said Mr. Greene, peering over his wife’s shoulder.
“There’s no doubt about the box,” said Sophonisba.