'
'Ah!' said Eleanor, 'I never thought it wise to take her, but how
could she get the key? You do not mean that you trusted it out of
your own keeping.'
'It began while we were ill,' faltered Emily, 'and afterwards it was
difficult to bring matters into their former order.'
'But oh, Eleanor, what is to be done?' sighed Lily.
'Speak to papa, of course,' said Eleanor. 'He is gone to the castle,
and in the meantime we had better take an exact account of everything
here.'
'And Esther? And Ada?' inquired the sisters.
'I think it will be better to speak to him before making so grave an
accusation,' said Eleanor.
They now commenced that wearisome occupation--a complete setting-to-
rights; Eleanor counted, weighed, and measured, and extended her
cares from the stores to every other household matter. Emily made
her escape, and went to sit with Ada; but Lily and Jane toiled for
several hours with Eleanor, till Lily was so heated and wearied that
she was obliged to give up a walk to Broomhill, and spend another day
without a talk with Alethea. However, she was so patient, ready, and
good-humoured, that Eleanor was well pleased with her. She could
hardly think of the slight vexation, when her mind was full of sorrow
and shame on Esther's account.
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