Before making their way into the dining-room, they deposited the monkey in the stables, giving the little creature a certain amount of freedom on her chain.
As soon as they opened the dining-room door, they could see that something serious was the matter.
[CHAPTER IX]
A HOMESICK MONKEY
THE traces of tears, which the boys saw on not only their sisters', but their mother's, cheeks, seemed to take the wind out of their sails, and to check the angry words which were on the point of utterance.
"Then—then you know without our telling," gasped out Rupert.
"Yes," replied Mrs. Snowden, guessing that in some way the lads had heard of their sister's disgrace. "Gertie has made open confession, and now, boys, I have just this to say to you—deal gently with your sister, and 'Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.'"
With this, Mrs. Snowden left the room, thinking it best for the children to have it out by themselves.
"How did you know anything about it?" said Marcia wonderingly, for Gertie's grief had rendered the child, for a while, too utterly miserable to ask questions.
"Grey told us at school," replied Kenneth. "His sister Dorothy, saw Gertie hide the book in Ella's desk."