He saw that I was punished quite severely enough, and did not add to my pain by rebuke or complaint.
An attempt was made during the week to recover the coat, valued at some twenty dollars; but the china ornament-man was not to be found--he had made too good a bargain to run the risk of having it broken.
About an hour after the discovery of the loss of my husband's coat, I went quietly down into the parlor, and taking from the mantle-piece the china vases, worth, probably, a dollar for the pair, concealed them under my apron, lest any one should see what I had; and, returning up stairs, hid them away in a dark closet, where they have ever since remained.
The reader may be sure that I never forgot this, my first and last speculation in china ware..