Every afternoon the great bamboo lounging chairwas brought out and the interesting invalid conductedto it by stout Randa, who was head nurse, andfollowed by a train of shawl, cushion, foot-stool andbook bearers, who buzzed about like swarming beesround a new queen. When all were settled, the littlemaids sewed and the pages read aloud, with muchconversation by the way; for one of the rules was,that all should listen attentively, and if any one didnot understand what was read, he or she should askto have it explained on the spot. Whoever couldanswer was invited to do so, and at the end of thereading Miss Celia could ask any she liked, or addany explanations which seemed necessary. In thisway much pleasure and profit was extracted from thetales Ben and Thorny read, and much unexpectedknowledge as well as ignorance displayed, not tomention piles of neatly hemmed towels for which Baband Betty were paid like regular sewing-women.

 

　　So vacation was not all play, and the girls foundtheir picnics, berry parties, and "goin' a visitin'," allthe more agreeable for the quiet hour spent with MissCelia. Thorny had improved wonderfully, and wasgetting to be quite energetic, especially since hissister's accident; for while she was laid up he wasthe head of the house, and much enjoyed his promotion.

 

　　But Ben did not seem to flourish as he haddone at first. The loss of Sancho preyed upon himsadly, and the longing to go and find his dog grewinto such a strong temptation that he could hardlyresist it. He said little about it; but now, and then aword escaped him which might have enlightened anyone who chanced to be watching him. No one was,just then, so he brooded over this fancy, day by day,in silence and solitude, for there was no riding anddriving now. Thorny was busy with his sister tryingto show her that he remembered how good she hadbeen to him when he was ill, and the little girls hadtheir own affairs.

 

　　Miss Celia was the first to observe the change,having nothing to do but lie on the sofa and amuseherself by seeing others work or play. Ben wasbright enough at the readings, because theyn he forgothis troubles; but when they were over and his variousduties done, he went to his own room or soughtconsolation with Lita, being sober and quiet, andquite unlike the merr monkey all knew and liked sowell.

 

　　"Thorny, what is the matter with Ben?" asked MissCelia, one day, when she and her brother were alonein the "green parlor," as they called the lilac-treewalk.

 

　　"Fretting about Sanch, I suppose. I declare Iwish that dog had never been born! Losing him hasjust spoilt Ben. Not a bit of fun left in him, and hewon't have any thing I offer to cheer him up."Thorny spoke impatiently, and knit his brows overthe pressed flowers he was neatly gumming into hisherbal.

 

　　"I wonder if he has any thing on his mind? Heacts as if he was hiding a trouble he didn't dareto tell. Have you talked with him about it?" askedMiss Celia, looking as if she was hiding a trouble shedid not like to tell.

 

　　"Oh, yes, I poke him up now and then, but he getspeppery, so I let him alone. May be he is longingfor his old circus again. Shouldn't blame him muchif he was; it isn't very lively here, and he's used toexcitement, you know.""I hope it isn't that. Do you think he would slipaway without telling us, and go back to the old lifeagain?

 

　　"Don't believe he would. Ben isn't a bit of asneak; that's why I like him.""Have you ever found him sly or untrue in anyway?" asked Miss Celia, lowering her voice.

 

　　"No; he's as fair and square a fellow as I ever saw.

 

　　Little bit low, now and then, but he doesn't mean it,and wants to be a gentleman, only he never livedwith one before, and it's all new to him. I'll gethim polished up after a while.""Oh, Thorny, there are three peacocks on the place,and you are the finest! " laughed Miss Celia, as herbrother spoke in his most condescending way witha lift of the eyebrows very droll to see.

 

　　"And two donkeys, and Ben's the biggest, not toknow when he is well off and happy!" retorted the"gentleman," slapping a dried specimen on the pageas if he were pounding discontented Ben.

 

　　"Come here and let me tell you something whichworries me. I would not breathe it to another soul,but I feel rather helpless, and I dare say you canmanage the matter better than I."Looking much mystified, Thorny went and sat onthe stool at his sister's feet, while she whisperedconfidentially in his ear: " I've lost some money outof my drawer, and I'm so afraid Ben took it.""But it's always locked up and you keep the keysof the drawer and the little room?""It is gone, nevertheless, and I've had my keyssafe all the time.""But why think it is he any more than Randa, orKaty, or me?""Because I trust you three as I do myself. I'veknown the girls for years, and you have no object intaking it since all I have is yours, dear.""And all mine is yours, of course. But, Celia, howcould he do it? He can't pick locks, I know, for wefussed over my desk together, and had to break itafter all.""I never really thought it possible till to-day whenyou were playing ball and it went in at the upperwindow, and Ben climbed up the porch after it;you remember you said, 'If it had gone in at thegarret gable you couldn't have done that so well; '

 

　　and he answered, 'Yes, I could, there isn't a spoutI can't shin up, or a bit of this roof I haven't beenover.'""So he did ; but there is no spout near the littleroom window.""There is a tree, and such an agile boy as Bencould swing in and out easily. Now, Thorny, I hateto think this of him, but it has happened twice, andfor his own sake I must stop it. If he is planning torun away, money is a good thing to have. And hemay feel that it is his own; for you know he askedme to put his wages in the bank, and I did. He maynot like to come to me for that, because he can giveno good reason for wanting it. I'm so troubled Ireally don't know what to do."She looked troubled, and Thorny put his armsabout her as if to keep all worries but his own awayfrom her.

 

　　"Don't you fret, Cely, dear; you leave it to me.

 

　　I'll fix him - ungrateful little scamp!""That is not the way to begin. I am afraid youwill make him angry and hurt his feelings, and thenwe can do nothing.""Bother his feelings! I shall just say, calmly andcoolly: 'Now, look here, Ben, hand over the moneyyou took out of my sister's drawer, and we'll let youoff easy,' or something like that.""It wouldn't do, Thorny; his temper would be upin a minute, and away he would go before we couldfind out whether he was guilty or not. I wish I knewhow to manage."Let me think," and Thorny leaned his chin on thearm of the chair, staring hard at the knocker asif he expected the lion's mouth to open with wordsof counsel then and there.

 

　　"By Jove, I do believe Ben took it!" he brokeout suddenly; "for when I went to his room thismorning to see why he didn't come and do myboots, he shut the drawer in his bureau as quick asa flash, and looked red and queer, for I didn't knock,and sort of startled him.""He wouldn't be likely to put stolen money there.

 

　　Ben is too wise for that.""He wouldn't keep it there, but he might belooking at it and pitch it in when I called. He'shardly spoken to me since, and when I asked himwhat his flag was at half-mast for, he wouldn't answer.

 

　　Besides, you know in the reading this afternoon hedidn't listen, and when you asked what hewas thinking about, he colored up and mutteredsomething about Sanch. I tell you, Celia, it looksbad -- very bad," and Thorny shook his head with awise air.

 

　　"It does, and yet we may be all wrong. Let uswait a little and give the poor boy a chance to clearhimself before we speak. I'd rather lose my moneythan suspect him falsely.""How much was it?""Eleven dollars; a one went first, and I supposedI'd miscalculated somewhere when I took some out;but when I missed a ten, I felt that I ought not to letit pass.""Look here, sister, you just put the case intomy hands and let me work it up. I won't say anything to Ben till you give the word; but I'll watchhim, and now that my eyes are open, it won't be easyto deceive me."Thorny was evidently pleased with the new playof detective, and intended to distinguish himself inthat line; but when Miss Celia asked how he meantto begin, he could only respond with a blankexpression: "Don't know! You give me the keys andleave a bill or two in the drawer, and may be I canfind him out somehow."So the keys were given, and the little dressing-room where the old secretary stood was closelywatched for a day or two. Ben cheered up a triflewhich looked as if he knew an eye was upon him,but otherwise he went on as usual, and Miss Celiafeeling a little guilty at even harboring a suspicionof him, was kind and patient with his moods.

 

　　Thorny was very funny in the unnecessary mysteryand fuss he made; his affectation of careless indifferenceto Ben's movements and his clumsy attempts towatch every one of them; his dodgings up and downstairs, ostentatious clanking of keys, and the elaboratetraps he set to catch his thief, such as throwing hisball in at the dressing-room window and sending Benup the tree to get it, which he did, thereby provingbeyond a doubt that he alone could have takenthe money, Thorny thought. Another deep discoverywas, that the old drawer was so shrunken that thelock could be pressed down by slipping a knife-bladebetween the hasp and socket.

 

　　"Now it is as clear as day, and you'd better letme speak," he said, full of pride as well as regret atthis triumphant success of his first attempt as adetective.

 

　　"Not yet, and you need do nothing more. I'mafraid it was a mistake of mine to let you do this;and if it has spoiled your friendship with Ben, I shallbe very sorry; for I do not think he is guilty,"answered Miss Celia.

 

　　"Why not?" and Thorny looked annoyed.

 

　　"I've watched also, and he doesn't act like adeceitful boy. To-day I asked him if he wanted anymoney, or should I put what I owe him with the rest,and he looked me straight in the face with suchhonest, grateful eyes, I could not doubt him when hesaid 'Keep it, please, I don't need any thing here,you are all so good to me.'""Now, Celia, don't you be soft-hearted. He's asly little dog, and knows my eye is on him. WhenI asked him what he saw in the dressing-room, afterhe brought out the ball, and looked sharply at him,he laughed, and said 'Only a mouse,' as saucy asyou please.""Do set the trap there, I heard the mouse nibblinglast night, and it kept me awake. We must have acat or we shall be overrun.""Well, shall I give Ben a good blowing up, or willyou?" asked Thorny, scorning such poor prey asmice, and bound to prove that he was in the right.

 

　　"I'll let you know what I have decided in themorning. Be kind to Ben, meantime, or I shall feelas if I had done you harm by letting you watch him."So it was left for that day, and by the next, MissCelia had made up her mind to speak to Ben. Shewas just going down to breakfast when the sound ofloud voices made her pause and listen. It came fromBen's room, where the two boys seemed to be disputingabout something.

 

　　"I hope Thorny has kept his promise," shethought, and hurried through the back entry, fearinga general explosion.

 

　　Ben's chamber was at the end, and she could seeand hear what was going on before she was nearenough to interfere. Ben stood against his closetdoor looking as ............