"Hannah," she said, abruptly, "have you been upstairs to my chamber this afternoon?"
"No, ma'am," said Hannah.
"Think a moment," said her mistress, sternly; "have you not been up?"
"No, ma'am, I haven't. I told you so once," said Hannah, not altogether pleased with the doubt implied by the second question.
"Has any one called here since I went away?" asked Mrs. Oakley.
"No, ma'am."
"Then there has been no one in the house excepting yourself?"
"No one except Master Ben."
"Ben!" repeated Mrs. Oakley, in a changed voice. "When did Ben come home?"