"Very well," I said, pushing the table back, "I am sorry to have given you so much trouble for nothing. Will you warm that gruel for me."
Mrs. Arnold paused in the act of raising the cover from the oysters:
"Do you mean, Miss, that you do not intend to eat this?"
"Yes," I said, concisely, "I will take the gruel, if you'll warm it, please. There's fire enough there."
She gave me rather a curious look; then quietly removed the tray into the hall, and proceeded to warm the gruel. I swallowed the tasteless compound without flinching, while Mrs. Arnold watched me silently, and took away the emptied bowl without a word of comment. I lay very silent but very sleepless till Kitty came up; then watched anxiously till Mrs. Arnold should leave the room, which she was very long in doing. When at last she did, I started up, exclaiming:
"Bolt that door, and come here, Kitty!"
She obeyed, but not very cheerfully, I fancied; indeed there had been a shade of anxiety on her face for some time.
"Kitty," I said, hurriedly and gravely, "I've lost the miniature; do you know anything about it?"
She did not look surprised, but very unhappy, as she answered:
"I know it's gone, Miss; but where, I know no more than the dead."