“What has she done?”
“She stole twenty dollars from Mr. Holland’s room. He left his pocket-book on the bureau, and she took out the money.”
“Did she confess it?”
“No, she stoutly denied it. I told her, if she would confess, I would forgive her, and let her stay in the house. But she remained obstinate, and went away.”
“Are you convinced that she took it?” asked Mrs. Carver, who now suspected where the gold pencil came from.
“It could have been no one else. She was in the room, making the beds, and sweeping, in the morning.
“Still, she may have been innocent.”
“Then who could have taken the money?”
“Somebody that wanted a gold pencil,” returned Mrs. Carver, nodding significantly.
“What!” exclaimed Mrs. Merton, aghast. “You don’t mean to hint that Mary took it?”