"How can I tell? It's gone."
"Come," exclaimed Julian, with a laugh, "this is too absurd, Harriet! You must have taken leave of your senses. If it's gone, then some one in the house has taken it."
"And why not Ida Starr?"
Julian stared at her with mingled anger and alarm.
"Why not? Simply because she is incapable of such a thing."
"Perhaps you think so, no doubt. You think a good deal of her, it seems to me. Perhaps you don't know quite as much about her as I do."
"I fancy I know much more," exclaimed Julian indignantly.
"Oh, do you?"
"If you think her capable of stealing your spoon, you show complete ignorance of her character. What do you know of her that you should have such suspicions?"
"Never mind," said Harriet, nodding her head obstinately.