Ben entered, feeling rather nervous also.
"Has mother found out?" he thought.
"Good-afternoon, mother," he said, with apparent unconcern. "Is supper most ready? I'm awful hungry."
"I want to speak to you a moment, Benjamin," said his mother. "Will you come upstairs?"
"Now for it," thought Ben.
"Can't you speak here just as well?" he said. "I'm tired."
"I would rather have you come upstairs," said Mrs. Oakley.
"Just as you say," said Ben; "but I don't see why you can't talk just as well down here."
Mrs. Oakley led the way to her own chamber. Ben followed, feeling, it must be confessed, not altogether comfortable. This feeling was not diminished when his mother closed the door carefully. She turned and confronted him.
"You have been to my bureau-drawer, Ben," she said, eying him fixedly.