"And I did not feel
comfortable about it, mother," said Babie, "so I thought I would lock
up the davenport, so that nobody could get at it."
"You did not see her take anything away?"
"No, I can't at all tell," said Babie. "Is anything gone?"
"A book I valued very much. Some memoranda of your father were in
that desk, and I cannot find them now. You cannot tell, I suppose,
whether she was reading letters or a book?"
"It was not letters," said Babie, "but I could not see whether it was
print or manuscript. Mother, I think she must have taken it to read
and could not put it back again because I had hidden the davenport.
Oh! I wish I hadn't, but I couldn't ask any one, it seemed such a
wicked, dreadful fancy that she could meddle with your papers."
"You acted to the best of your judgment, my dear," said Caroline.
"I ought never to have let it out of my own keeping."
"Do you think it was lost in the bag, mother?"
"I hope not. That would be worst of all!" said Caroline. "I must
ask Janet. Don't say anything about it, my dear. Let me think it
over."
When Caroline recollected Janet's attempt, as related by Robert, to
break open her bureau, she had very little doubt that the book was
there. It could not have been lost in the bag, for, as she
remembered, reference had been made to it when Janet had extorted
permission to go to Zurich, and she had warned her that even these
studies would not be a qualification for the possession of the
secret.
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