rtain that her intentions
were suspected, if not known.

"That's a gentle hint not to take anything from that drawer," said
Fanny to herself. "There is nothing there, and of course I must take
the hint; but they can't cheat me. There is money somewhere in this
desk, and I must have it."

Perhaps, under ordinary circumstances, she would have been moved by the
expedient which had been used to deter her from stealing. The
commandment of God, staring her in the face at the very moment when she
expected to place her hand upon the forbidden treasure, might have
reached her conscience if she had not been engaged in a deeply-laid
plan for revelling in stolen joys. As it was, she was only disappointed
at not finding the money which the drawer had been supposed to contain.

"Fanny Jane!" called Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, from the entry.

It was not prudent to be seen in the library, and, hastily closing the
drawer, and restoring the key to the nail under the desk, she stepped
out at one of the long windows upon the piazza.

"Fanny Jane!" repeated the housekeeper.

"Here I am," said the guilty girl, entering the front door.

"It is time for you to get ready for school," added Mrs. Green.

"I'm not going to school to-day."

"Not going to school? Why not, miss?"

"Because I don't want to go."

"I think you are going," said the housekeeper, firmly.

"And I think I am not going!"

"Very well; then I will send for Mr. Long," added Mrs. Green, with a
coolness and decision which were not without their effect upon the
stubborn girl.

Mr. Long was a constable, and outside of his official duties, he was
often employed in various miscellaneous offices by Mr. Grant. He lived
in a small cottage adjoining the Woodville estate. This man was a great
bugbear to Fanny, who had a very proper and wholesome regard for the
strong arm of the law.

"I don't care for Mr. Long," said Fanny, shaking her shoulders in
defiance; but this was only a vain boast.

Mrs. Green rang a bell for the man-servant who was employed in the
house. This was more than the naughty girl could endure, for she knew
that Mrs. Green would do all she promised.

"You needn't send for Mr. Long," interposed Fanny, doggedly. "I'll go
to school."

"I thought you would; but you may do as you please."

"I'll go, but I want fifteen cents to buy a new copy-book."

As Mrs. Green knew that Fanny needed a new copy-book, she did not
object to this request, and went in