“You wouldn’t!” exclaimed Lucy in dismay.
“Indeed I would,” her aunt retorted. “I’d go to any length to see what’s in that bag. If they were younger——” she broke off abruptly. “Anyhow, it’s somethin’ they’re ashamed of, I’m certain of that. They couldn’t ’a’ murdered anybody, I s’pose. Bad’s I hate ’em, I’d hardly think they’re that wicked. Still what can it be?”
“I can’t imagine.”
“Well, I’m goin’ to track ’em down, anyhow,” Ellen announced. “Ain’t you comin’?”
“No.”
To spy on the actions of others did not appeal to the younger woman’s honest mind.
“You can get breakfast while I’m gone then,” Ellen said, catching up her coat, “and if I don’t come back pretty soon, you go ahead 94 and eat yours. I’d a thousand times rather ferret out what those Howes are tryin’ to bury than eat. I’d be willin’ to starve to do it.”