Graham surveyed the work of devastation.
"I will finish this side, and then I think, Miss Brodie, we might leave the rest to another time--till to-morrow, say."
"I really don't see what's the use of doing it at all," said Ella. "I don't believe there's anything hidden in this room; and look at the mess, it will take hours to clear it up. And who wants to live in a place with bare brick walls? It gives me the horrors to look at them."
Madge looked at her, more in sorrow than in anger.
"I think, Mr. Graham, that perhaps you had better stop."
He detected the mournful intonation.
"At any rate, I'll finish this side."
He continued to add to the uncomfortable appearance of the room; for there certainly was something in what Ella said.
He had worked for another quarter of an hour, or twenty minutes, and had torn off three or four more strips of wood--for they had been firmly secured in their places, and took some tearing--and the others were gathered round them, assisting and looking on, momentarily expecting that something would come to light better worth having than dust and cobwebs, of which articles there were very much more than sufficient, when Ella gave a sudden exclamation.
"Madge! Jack!" she cried. "Who--who's this man?"