She saw her brother-in-law coming toward the house, and trembled with fear of her husband's anger.
"You have some excellent lumber out before the shop," remarked Mr. Monroe, coming in and taking his seat.
"I had to give a good deal more for it than it's worth," grumbled the carpenter; "my wheel broke down, too, and I never got home till midnight."
"I'm sorry; but it's most time I was at the factory, and I have something to say to you."
At first Mr. Drake went on eating, as if nothing his brother could say would be worse than his last night's misfortunes. But presently he dropped his knife and fork, his face growing whiter and whiter with rage.
All this time Mrs. Drake had not come down from Henry's chamber, which she had found empty.
Now her husband rose, and going to the foot of the stairs called out,—
"Mary Anne, come down. I want you quick; and if Henry knows what is good for himself, he'll be here in no time."
"Wife," said he, when she came in, looking haggard and frightened at her son's disappearance; "Monroe says you knew all the time that Henry stole the keys from my pocket; that you heard him at it. Is that true?"
"I didn't know what he was going to do with the keys," she said, apologizing.