pulled down a lot of the wood-work and turned it all upside down,
but they couldn't find anything. Still, you see, it ain't a likely
tale of theirs as they keeps the door locked because they want it to
be just as he left it, when it's all been turned topsy-turvy and
everything put out of its place.

"That's what Martha and me couldn't get over, though Martha told me
they done their best to have it put just as it was; and there's paper
and pens on the table, just to pretend it is exactly as it used to be
and that no one hadn't been in. As if they cared so much about him. I
call it sickening, that's what I calls it. The Withers don't come here
now. They used to be often here in the master's time, but they are not
friends with them now. Last Sunday the parson he made it hot for them,
and preached a sermon about secrets being known and undiscovered
things coming to light. Of course he didn't say nothing special about
wills, but they felt it, I could see. Our pew's on the opposite side
of the church, and I could see their faces. Miss Penfold she got
white, and pinched up her lips, and if she could have given a piece of
her mind to the parson she would have done so; and Eleanor she got red
and looked as if she was going to cry.

"She is a lot better than her sister, she is; and if any wrong's been
done it's the old one that's done it, I am sure, and Martha always
said so too. I could put up with the younger one very well, but I
can't abide Miss Penfold."

"I am quite anxious to see the room, Jane, after what you have been
telling me about it."

"Well, you will see it in about a week. It's always on the first of
the month that it is done up; and you will see the old woman will go
in with you, and watch you all the time like a cat watches a mouse.
Martha used to say so, But there--as you are not from this part of the
country, and she won't think as you know nothing about the will or
care nothing about it, she won't keep such a sharp lookout after you
as she did with Martha."

Upon the following Sunday Mrs. Withers, on the way home from church,
asked her husband with some anxiety whether he was not well. "I
noticed you were quite pale in church, James, and you lost your place
once or twice, and seemed as if you really weren't attending to what
you were doing?"

"Then I am afraid, my dear, I seemed what I was, for I was
tremendously surprised; and though I tried hard to keep my thoughts
from wandering I am afraid I succee