If it's gone,
then some one in the house has taken it."
"And why not Ida Starr?"
Julian stared at her with mingled anger and alarm.
"Why not? Simply because she is incapable of such a thing."
"Perhaps _you_ think so, no doubt. You think a good deal of her, it
seems to me. Perhaps you don't know quite as much about her as I
do."
"I fancy I know much more," exclaimed Julian indignantly.
"Oh, do you?"
"If you think her capable of stealing your spoon, you show complete
ignorance of her character. What do you know of her that you should
have such suspicions?"
"Never mind," said Harriet, nodding her head obstinately.
There was again a long silence. Julian reflected.
"We will talk about this again to-morrow," he said, "when you have
had time to think. You are under some strange delusion. After all, I
expect you will find the spoon, and then you'll be sorry for having
been so hasty."
Harriet became obstinately silent. She cut a piece of bread and
butter, and took it into the other room. Julian paced up and down.
CHAPTER XXIII
THE OPPORTUNITY
One or two days after this, Ida Starr came home from work with a
heavy heart. Quite without notice, and without explanation, her
employer had paid her a week's wages and dismissed her.
Pages:
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352