The piano was gone or moved.

It must be the latter, and Richard looked for it in every corner, even searching in the bedroom and opening the closet door, as if so ponderous a thing could have been hidden there! It was gone, and so was Ethie's trunk, and some of Ethie's clothes, for he looked to see, and then mechanically went out into the hall, just as Mr.Bailey came upstairs and saw him.
"Ho, Judge! is that you?
Glad to see you back.

Have been lonesome with you and your wife both away.

Do you know of the trade we made--she and I--the very day you left?
She offered me her piano for three hundred dollars, and I took her up at once.

A fine instrument, that, but a little too small for her.