se she must tell him of her loss; but she well knew how
angry he would be, and what a commotion was likely to ensue. However,
there was no help for it.

'Ada,' said Mr. Ellis to his wife, after he had enjoyed a comfortable
dinner, and had taken his customary seat in the arm-chair, newspaper in
hand, 'what has become of that valuable brooch that I gave you on your
birthday? You used to wear it every day; why have you not got it on
now?'

The usually pale face of Mrs. Ellis flushed all over at this inquiry,
but she answered truthfully--Mabel had certainly not learned to tell
falsehoods, either from her mamma or papa:

'I am very sorry to tell you, Arthur,' said Mrs. Ellis, 'that the brooch
is missing; I have searched in vain for it, and Susan does not know
anything about it.'

'Have you inquired of the girls, and the children?' said Mr. Ellis;
'perhaps they may have seen it.'

'I did ask Mabel when she came in from her walk if she had had it on,'
replied the lady,' and she said she had not.'

'Call Mabel and Julia down, and let me question them,' said papa;
'perhaps I may learn more about the brooch than you think.'

'Oh, I'm sure it is no use, my dear,' replied Mrs. Ellis, dreading a
scene, for she knew how severely her husband was inclined to visit
faults which she, poor lady, had not courage to grapple with. 'Better
not disturb yourself about the brooch to-night,' she added; 'we will
have another search for it to-morrow, and I am sure the girls know
nothing about it.'

'_I_ am not sure of any such thing,' replied Mr. Ellis, 'and I insist
upon Mabel and Julia being told to come to me.'

As there was no resisting her husband's authority, the girls were
summoned to their papa's presence; and though they knew not why it was,
there was a conscious uneasiness in their minds which certainly did not
lend wings to their feet.

'Come here, girls,' said their papa, though not in an unkindly tone, as
they entered the dining-room. 'I want to ask you a few questions. Mind,
I must have truthful and straightforward answers--no prevarication.'

Mrs. Ellis looked at the two girls, and then at her husband, with
astonishment, not having the least idea of what was coming; yet she felt
very uneasy.

'Mabel,' said Mr. Ellis, addressing his eldest daughter, 'you were out
yesterday?'

'Yes, papa,' replied that young lady; 'Julia and I went for a walk with
Dora and Annie Maitland.'

'And where did you go?' was the next inquir