g the carved work of the bookcases
themselves. This must be gone over inch by inch. That was evidently
the first work to be done. The mantel and its supports were of richly
carved woodwork. These, too, must be searched. In the first place,
however, she had to carry out her work; and laying aside determinately
all thought of the missing will, she began to dust and sweep. At the
end of an hour, when she happened to turn round, she saw Miss Penfold
standing in the doorway. She had not heard her footstep, and at once
decided in her mind that it would be necessary to be extremely careful
in her search, as at any moment Miss Penfold might look in upon her
without warning.

"Have you nearly finished, Anna?" Miss Penfold asked.

"It will take me another hour at least to dust the woodwork properly,
Miss Penfold. I have done the carpet and furniture."

Miss Penfold made no remark but went away again.

"She is not likely to come back for a few minutes," Mrs. Conway said
to herself. "I think I can safely carry out one of my plans."

She took from her pocket a ball of thin string, one end of which was
attached to a tiny brad awl. Going into one corner of the room she
fixed the brad awl into the woodwork; then, unwinding the ball,
proceeded to the other end of the room, straining the string tightly,
and tied a knot to mark the length. Then she went back and crossed the
room, and again make a knot to mark the width. Then she hastily
gathered up the string, pulled the brad awl from the woodwork, and put
them in her pocket. While she had been carrying this out she retained
a duster in one hand, and dusted the wood work as she moved along,
trusting that if Miss Penfold should look in, the string, which was of
a dark color, would be unnoticed by her. However she gave a sigh of
relief when the operation was complete, and the string and brad awl
hidden away. She then continued her work until in about three-quarters
of an hour Miss Penfold again appeared.

"I think that will do very well, Anna; it is quite impossible to get
all the dust out of the carving. It would take you all day to go over
it, and you would need steps for the upper part. That need only be
done occasionally." She gave an approving glance round as she noticed
that the new housemaid had carefully placed every article in the exact
place in which she had found it. Mrs. Conway gathered up the brooms
and dusters and left the room, Miss Penfold carefully locking the door
a