"What's to be done?" asked Mrs. Early, in a loud whisper.
"To be done?" said Aunt Phœbe. "That's what's worrying me. Another turn like this, and the two of you are beggars. Think of it—beggars!"
"It's a shame!" cried Mrs. Early, indignantly.
"It's a conspiracy," said her aunt, darkly. "And I shall make it my business to find the conspirators. If that sharpshoes of a lawyer isn't at the bottom of it, then somebody else is. One thing's certain, there must be no more office work for the present. And before the day is out we must decide what is to be done. The first thing I should advise is your getting rid of those three men. They've certainly had a hand in this business."
Towards evening George Early regained his normal condition, and expressed himself very forcibly about the way in which he had been treated.
"I'm afraid it won't do you any good to stand there using language," said Aunt Phœbe, shortly. "It would be more interesting to know what you propose doing."
George had nothing to propose at the moment, but promised to try to think of something. Having taken the edge off his resentment, he said that, as matters stood, there was only one thing to be done, and he meant to do it. So the trio sat far into the night discussing the new proposals.
Chapter XXI—Follow my Leader
