Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/122

 very acceptable, for they experienced a loss which made their little income very confined. One morning, on coming down stairs, there seemed a disorder in the room very unusual; no fire was made, no preparation for breakfast, and the door of the house left on the latch. Their aunt, who had always performed all the offices of a servant, assisted by Claudina whilst Ferdinand nursed his little boy. This aunt it was plain was gone out, but for what, or where to, they could form no conjecture; however, they exerted themselves to do the necessary offices, but when they came to prepare their breakfast, they could find no spoons, and in a short time after discovered the drawers in the room had been opened, and all Claudina's linen was taken away; they likewise missed Ferdinand's watch, which hung in the room.

Strangely alarmed, they made every possible search, which only served to discover more losses, and to convince them they had been robbed, and by this aunt. Their consternation cannot be expressed; but the cruel