"There must be something queer about our family," she thought, desperately, "that we are all the time hiding something from one another. I do wish I were one of the Lorings. They never have any mysteries or secrets, and it is so nice."
Suddenly there was a loud thump overhead. Miss Herrick started and looked terrified. Elizabeth exclaimed aloud, and then again hid her face behind her aunt. Even Miss Rebecca seemed stirred from her usual indifference.
"What was that?" murmured Miss Herrick. "Was it—was it in the room overhead?"
Miss Rebecca nodded. "It sounded so," she said.
"What can it be?"
They listened, but there was no further sound.
"Shall I go and see, Aunt Caroline?" asked Elizabeth, in a timid voice.
"You, child! Why should you go? If we hear anything more I will send James. It is very strange."
"Perhaps the cat has been shut up somewhere," suggested Miss Rebecca; "or probably one of the servants has been in one of the empty rooms getting something. It does not necessarily follow that it is that room, Caroline. I would not give it another thought."
"True, the box of oranges was put in the upper store-room. You are right, Rebecca. Strange how my thoughts always fly to the one place when I hear anything overhead. I suppose it was because we were talking about the drawing-lessons when it happened."