ow
removed."

Mr. Fanshawe certainly was taken aback, as were we all. When he had
mastered his bewilderment, and assured himself that he had heard
aright--

"It is, indeed, a strange request, my dear Catherine," said he; "what
can be your reason for asking such a thing?"

"If you will only have it done, and not question me, you will understand
my reason," answered Catherine.

Mr. Fanshawe demurred, however, thinking it some foolish whim, and at
last Catherine said:

"I must tell you why I wish it done, then: I am sure we shall discover
something underneath."

At this we all looked at one another in extreme bewilderment.

"Discover something underneath? No doubt we should--cobwebs, probably,
and dust and spiders," answered Mr. Fanshawe, much amused.

But Catherine was not to be laughed down.

"Only do as I wish," said she beseechingly, "and you will see. If you
find nothing underneath the dais but cobwebs and dust, then you may
laugh at me as much as you like." And I saw that she was serious, for
tears were actually gathering in her eyes. Of course we were all very
anxious to know what Catherine expected to find, and how she came to
suspect that there was anything to be found; but she would not say, and
begged us all not to question her.

And now George took upon himself to interfere.

"Let us do as Catherine wishes, father," said he; "the dais spoils the
laundry, and would be much better away."

"Well, well," said Mr. Fanshawe, "do as you like, only I shall expect my
share of the treasure that is found.--And now," added he, "you must have
a glass of wine to warm you, Catherine, for you look sadly pale, child."

Here the conversation changed, though we often alluded to the subject
again during the evening.

The next morning the first thing in all our thoughts was Catherine's
singular request.

I think Mr. Fanshawe had hoped she would have forgotten it, but such
was not the case; on the contrary, she enlisted George's services the
first thing after breakfast to carry out her design, and they left the
room together, accompanied by Ella.

It was a snowy morning, and Mr. Fanshawe was obliged to be away from
home all day on business, so I was quite at a loss how to entertain my
numerous guests successfully. Happily for me, however, the mystery
attendant on the removal of the dais in the laundry charmed them all;
and I have to thank Catherine for contributing to their amusement much
better than I could po