it again, and on no account repeat what I said. The idea came into my
head, and I spoke without thinking. I wouldn't have Hester know it for
the world. But it is strange, isn't it, that Neal paid gold for his
money-order. Where did he get it?"

"It is strange, papa, but indeed I think Neal is honest. I am sure--oh,
I am very sure--that it couldn't have been Janet's."

"Then where did he get it?" repeated Mr. Franklin, with another cut of
his whip.

"Perhaps Mrs. Franklin gave it to him."

"Of course she didn't," exclaimed her father, with irritation, "and I
wish you would oblige me, Edith, by not calling my wife 'Mrs. Franklin.'
If you do not choose to speak of her as the rest of my children do, you
can at least call her 'Hester.' You annoy me beyond measure."

Edith turned very white as she said: "I am sorry, papa. Then I will call
her nothing. I can't possibly say 'mamma' to her, and I don't feel like
speaking to her by her first name."

"What nonsense is all this!" said Mr. Franklin. "I am thoroughly
disappointed in you, Edith."

"I don't know why you should be, papa. I have nothing to do with it. If
the Gordons had not come here this would never have happened. The money
would not be missing, you wouldn't have had the letters from Tony
Bronson, and I--oh, I would have been so much happier!"

"If you are not happy, it is entirely your own fault," said her father,
sternly. "Now let me hear no more of these absurd notions of yours. I
have too much to think of that is of more importance."

Edith wanted to cry, but she controlled herself. She was to drive with
her father over to Upper Falls, where he had to attend to some business,
and now she had made him seriously angry, she knew. She swallowed the
lumps that rose in her throat, and presently she managed to speak on
some indifferent subject; but her father made no reply, and they soon
turned in at Oakleigh gates. Janet, the small, quiet person on the back
seat, could scarcely wait to get home. She must find Neal at once.

But Neal was not easily to be found. She trotted up to his room, but he
was not there. She went to the cellar stairs and called, but Neal had
neglected his duties of late as partner in the poultry business; in
fact, he had retired altogether, and the eggs reposed there alone. Janet
was not allowed to descend the stairs because of her misdemeanors last
year.

She went to the workshop, but all was quiet. Looking out from the upper
window, h