Infelice by Augusta Jane Evans Wilson
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page 23 of 760 (03%)
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the dear old thing safe in defiance of your prophecy."
Mrs. Lindsay came downstairs laughing heartily, and menacing irate Hannah with the old-fashioned urn, which had supplied three generations with tea. "Is that the sole cause of the disturbance?" asked the master, stooping to pat Biƶrn, who was dancing a tarantella on the good man's velvet slippers. Somewhat crestfallen the woman seized the urn, began to polish it with her apron, and finally said sulkily: "I beg pardon for raising a false alarm, but indeed it looked suspicious and smelled of foul play, when I found the library window wide open, two chairs upside down on the carpet,--mud on the window-sill, the inkstand upset,--and no urn on the sideboard. But as usual I am only an old fool, and you, sir, and Miss Elise know best I am very sorry I roused you so early with my racket." "Did you say the library window wide open? Impossible; I distinctly recollect closing the blinds, and putting down the sash before I went to bed. Elise, were you not with me at the time?" "Yes, I am sure you secured it, just before bidding me goodnight." "Well--no matter, facts are ugly, stubborn things. Now you two just see for yourselves, what I found this morning." Hannah hurried them into the library, where a fire had already been |
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