“I will do what in me lays, Miss Sophy,” answered Judith.
So Sophy took her leave and trotted home, very proud of her discovery, which she communicated in an eager voice as the phaeton drew up at the front door.
“Oh, Edmund, I have found the rest of the drawing-room paper!”
“Hush! not so loud, my dear,” said Dora, getting out of the back seat, and Edmund, being busy in telling the groom to attend to something in the harness, did not heed at first.
“Did you know, Dora?” asked Sophy, in a lower voice, being struck by something in her repressive manner.
“Yes; but I did not tell, because Edmund was so much vexed, and it was of no use now.”
Dora really hoped no one had heard, as Mary was busy with her parcels, and she was too fond of Judith not to wish to shield her family; but it was too late. The captain came in with, “What’s this about the drawing-room paper?”
Sophy was delighted to pour out the history of her discovery, and tell how it appeared on the screen that sheltered poor Judith Grey.
“Exactly as I supposed,” said Captain Carbonel. “I always believed that fellow was a thief.”
“But it is not poor Judith’s fault,” exclaimed the sisters, with one voice.