"Oh, ma'am!" she exclaimed."There's been sich goings on! Oh! I never did see, ma'am! The things is all turned topsy-turvy. The picturs, cheers, everything. Oh! it is horrid."
"What is it you mean, Mary?"
"Oh! ma'am! only jist come down stairs, ma'am; that's all."
"But what do you mean?"
"There's been thieves in the house, ma'am! But do come and see. Jist slip on your things, ma'am, and only jist look at the horrid upset."
Aunt Eleanor did slip on her things, and on reaching the door of her favourite parlour, beheld a scene of unexampled confusion. Everything had been displaced. The tables had been turned upside down, and the chairs piled ingeniously upon them: the pictures had been taken from the walls, and placed round the room upon the carpet: the vases, the lambs, dogs, lions, and tigers, had been removed from the mantelpiece to the couch: the china and glass had been taken from the sideboard, and arranged fantastically upon the piano, while, in order to compromise the matter with the sideboard, the hearth-rug, coal-scuttle, fire-irons, and fender, had been in due form placed upon it; but nothing had been broken—nothing even injured!
Aunt Eleanor gazed for a few moments upon this most extraordinary state of things in silence; but, having at length observed calmly that it demanded minute investigation, she locked the door, and taking the key with her, returned to her chamber to dress.
Here she tranquilly turned the thing over in her mind; and, having viewed it in connexion with the ghost-hunting party, she resolved on sending for her reverend friend, with the view of placing the matter before him.
In pursuance of this resolution, she, on descending to the breakfast-room, opened her desk and proceeded to write a note to the reverend gentleman; but she had scarcely commenced it, when Mary appeared: and, having informed her that neither bread, butter, eggs, nor ham, could be found, inquired not only what was to become of them, but what was to be done?
"Can you not find enough for breakfast?"
"Lor bless you, ma'am, they haven't left a mite!"
Aunt Eleanor pressed her lips closely together, and finished the note; and, while folding it, said
"Light the taper, Mary; and then, desire Judkins to come here."
"Judkins, ma'am, can't get up yet," replied Mary.
"Why not? Is he ill?"
"No, ma'am, he isn't ill."
"Why, then, can he not get up?"
"Because ma'am, they've taken away all his things."
"Good gracious! What next shall I hear? Well, put on your bonnet; and take this note, and bring in with you what we require for breakfast."
The note being sealed, Mary left the room, and Sylvester soon after entered; and when his aunt, as usual, had kissed him, and expressed her fond hope that he was well, she proceeded to explain to him what had occurred; and thereby to fill him with utter amazement.
