I shall make old Dill explain his meaning for observing a mystery over it to me." "There is no mystery," answered Barbara, feeling quite sick lest Miss Carlyle should proclaim there was, before the clerks, or her father.
"Mamma wanted Mr.Carlyle's opinion upon a little private business, and not feeling well enough to come herself, she sent me." Miss Carlyle did not believe a word.

"What business ?" asked she unceremoniously.
"It is nothing that could interest you.

A trifling matter, relating to a little money.

It's nothing, indeed." "Then, if it's nothing, why were you closeted so long with Archibald ?" "He was asking the particulars," replied Barbara, recovering her equanimity.
Miss Carlyle sniffed, as she invariably did, when dissenting from a problem.

She was sure there was some mystery astir.