? ? ? ? 'It was all there was,' returned my aunt. 'I sold three, myself. One, I paid for your articles, Trot, my dear; and the other two I have by me. When I lost the rest, I thought it wise to say nothing about that sum, but to keep it secretly for a rainy day. I wanted to see how you would come out of the trial, Trot; and you came out nobly - persevering, self-reliant, self-denying! So did Dick. Don't speak to me, for I find my nerves a little shaken!'
? ? ? ? Nobody would have thought so, to see her sitting upright, with her arms folded; but she had wonderful self-command.
? ? ? ? 'Then I am delighted to say,' cried Traddles, beaming with joy, 'that we have recovered the whole money!'
? ? ? ? 'Don't congratulate me, anybody!' exclaimed my aunt. 'How so, sir?'
? ? ? ? 'You believed it had been misappropriated by Mr. Wickfield?' said Traddles.
? ? ? ? 'Of course I did,' said my aunt, 'and was therefore easily silenced. Agnes, not a word!'
? ? ? ? 'And indeed,' said Traddles, 'it was sold, by virtue of the power of management he held from you; but I needn't say by whom sold, or on whose actual signature. It was afterwards pretended to Mr. Wickfield, by that rascal, - and proved, too, by figures, - that he had possessed himself of the money (on general instructions, he said) to keep other deficiencies and difficulties from the light.
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