Without noticing, he had passed the point of final decision.

Alas! like many another, Hughie found the going easy and the slipping smooth upon the down incline.

Unconsciously he had slipped into being a thief.
Now he could not go back.

His absorbing purpose was concealment.

Quietly shutting the drawer, he was slipping hurriedly up to his own room, when on the stairway he met Jessie.
"What are you doing here, Jessie ?" he asked, sharply.
"Putting Robbie off to bed," said Jessie, in surprise.