Then she told him all.
Harry's face lit with sudden wrath.
"Come, mamma, let's go to Jo's room. I believe he's run away with them. I don't believe he's there."
Mrs. Malcom followed Harry to the kitchen, and up the back stairs to the little garret. Her heart smote her as she saw the miserable rags upon which Dinah and Jo and 'Thus'lem were all sleeping. For Jo was there, soundly sleeping as if innocent of everything of which they thought him guilty. How cold it was in that miserable place! How the wind whistled through the unplastered beams! How scant and wretched was their bed, their covering! How wicked she had been not to look after these poor creatures who had served her so long and faithfully! The crime, the fault, was partly hers.
But Harry had shaken Jo rudely by the shoulder. The startled crow limped out of his warm black resting-place and blinked maliciously at the intruders. Jo started to his feet in surprise.
A loud chink upon the old floor was distinctly heard, and by the light of Harry's lamp could be plainly seen the lost treasures. From under the ragged quilt had fallen the locket and the purse.
"Oh, you miserable thief!" said Harry to Jo.
Jo's teeth began to chatter in his head, his eyes to roll wildly. He looked from one to the other in a dazed and bewildered way.
"Wot in de canopy's de matter?" said Aunt Dinah, rubbing her eyes.
"Matter enough," said Harry. "Jo's a mean, sneaking thief. See what he has stolen from mamma and me."