Part 30 (2/2)
Mother looked at her gravely.
”Jane,” she said, ”I am sure you know something about this. Now think before you speak, and tell me the truth.”
”We found a Fairy,” said Jane obediently.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”We found a Fairy,” said Jane obediently]
”No nonsense, please,” said her mother sharply.
”Don't be silly, Jane,” Cyril interrupted. Then he went on desperately.
”Look here, mother, we've never seen the things before, but Lady Chittenden at Peasmarsh Place lost all her jewellery by wicked burglars last night. Could this possibly be it?”
All drew a deep breath. They were saved.
”But how could they have put it here? And why should they?” asked mother, not unreasonably. ”Surely it would have been easier and safer to make off with it?”
”Suppose,” said Cyril, ”they thought it better to wait for--for sunset--nightfall, I mean, before they went off with it. No one but us knew that you were coming back to-day.”
”I must send for the police at once,” said mother distractedly. ”Oh, how I wish daddy were here!”
”Wouldn't it be better to wait till he _does_ come?” asked Robert, knowing that his father would not be home before sunset.
”No, no; I can't wait a minute with all this on my mind,” cried mother.
”All this” was the heap of jewel-cases on the bed. They put them all in the wardrobe, and mother locked it. Then mother called Martha.
”Martha,” she said, ”has any stranger been into my room since I've been away? Now, answer me truthfully.”
”No, mum,” answered Martha; ”leastways, what I mean to say”--
She stopped.
”Come,” said her mistress kindly, ”I see someone has. You must tell me at once. Don't be frightened. I'm sure _you_ haven't done anything wrong.”
Martha burst into heavy sobs.
”I was a-goin' to give you warning this very day, mum, to leave at the end of my month, so I was,--on account of me being going to make a respectable young man happy. A gamekeeper he is by trade, mum--and I wouldn't deceive you--of the name of Beale. And it's as true as I stand here, it was your coming home in such a hurry, and no warning given, out of the kindness of his heart it was, as he says, 'Martha, my beauty,' he says,--which I ain't, and never was, but you know how them men will go on,--'I can't see you a-toiling and a-moiling and not lend a 'elping 'and; which mine is a strong arm, and it's yours Martha, my dear,' says he. And so he helped me a-cleanin' of the windows--but outside, mum, the whole time, and me in; if I never say another breathing word it's gospel truth.”
”Were you with him the whole time?” asked her mistress.
”Him outside and me in, I was,” said Martha; ”except for fetching up a fresh pail and the leather that that s.l.u.t of a Eliza'd hidden away behind the mangle.”
”That will do,” said the children's mother. ”I am not pleased with you, Martha, but you have spoken the truth, and that counts for something.”
When Martha had gone, the children clung round their mother.
”Oh, mummy darling,” cried Anthea, ”it isn't Beale's fault, it isn't really! He's a great dear; he is, truly and honourably, and as honest as the day. Don't let the police take him, mummy! Oh, don't, don't, don't!”
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