at my orders.

"It remained a puzzle to me for a whole week. I believed, of course,
that Sarah must have unconsciously mislaid a spoon, which would be
found sooner or later. At the same time I remembered the visit of that
lad, who had never been in my house before, and how he might have
glanced into the drawing-room through accident, and seeing my souvenir
spoons, been tempted to purloin one. But every time that terrible
thought flashed into my mind I indignantly refused to harbor it, I love
all boys so much.

"Then again today he came with more work turned in by Mrs. Ackerman,
who had for some reason of her own selected him as her messenger. I
actually forgot all my ugly suspicions in the charm of his manly
conversation, until some time after he had gone, again, at my
suggestion, letting himself out. I hurried into the drawing-room, and
with trembling fingers proceeded to count my spoons. There were but
ten of them left in the open box. Another had strangely vanished!"

Hugh almost gasped, he was so tremendously interested in this thrilling
recital.

"You are certain you did not make any mistake, Mrs. Pangborn?" he
asked, for want of something better to say.

"Please step into the other room and count them for yourself, Hugh,"
she quickly told him. "You can use the connecting door if you wish,
instead of passing around by way of the hall."

Hugh came back a minute later. His face was very grave.