Part 30 (2/2)
Mr Martin would never adet all my past life absolutely You're like your father, and perhaps you ad; but they are not to my taste Here's the key of my wardrobe You will find the tin boxes which hold the jewels You can take them; only never let out a word to your stepfather He doesn't know I posses theie in a low voice ”Will you lie down on the sofa, ht it co up in the train yesterday You read and rest and feel quite contented, and let o to the bedroom to look at the jewels”
”Very well,” said Mrs Howland; ”you can have them I consider them of little or no importance; only don't tell your stepfather”
”He is not that yet, mums”
”Well, well,” said Mrs Howland, ”what does a fortnight ht Yes, take the key and go I shall be glad to rest on the sofa You're in a much more reasonable fraie
She entered the bedroom and closed the door softly behind her She held her mother's bunch of keys in her hand First of all she unlocked the wardrobe, and then, re the tin boxes, laid them on the table which stood at the foot of the bed She took the precaution first, however, to lock the bedroo done this, she seated herself at the table, and, selecting the proper keys, unlocked the two tin boxes One of theie had described to Molly and Isabel Tristraive a bracelet to each girl She recognized at once the thich she considered suitable for the girls, and then examined the others with e in pattern and die, kneell that she possessed great treasures, which, if possible, she would keep, but which, if necessary, she could sell for su to her own ideas
She put the twelve bracelets back into their case, and then, opening the second tin box, took from it many quaint curios, the value of which she had no old and silver, and queer beaten-work in brass, and there were pendants and long chains and brooches and queer ornairl She felt a lu sensation, which seemed to make her mother's present conduct all the more intolerable Hoas she to live in the future with the knowledge that her father's ot his treasures
She relocked the two tin boxes, and, stowing them carefully away in her own trunk, transferred the keys froht her mother's keys back to Mrs Howland
”Have you looked at theie?”
”Meie evasively
”Oh, then,” said Mrs Howland, ”I alad you have theie, and she went on her knees to her parent, ”you have really given them to me?”
”Well, of course, child Didn't I say so? I don't want thes for years”
”I wonder,on a piece of paper for me”
”Oh dear! oh dear!” said Mrs Howland ”Mr Martin doesn't approve of what he calls docu mother, you're not Mr Martin's wife yet I want you to put on paper that you have given me father's curios He always meant them for me, didn't he?”
”He did! he did!” said Mrs Howland ”One of the very last things he said--in his letter, I mean, for you know he died in Africa--was: 'The treasures I airl'”
”Ohon this bit of paper”
”My head is so weak I haven't an idea what to say”
”I'll dictate it to you, if I may”
”Very well, child; I suppose I can't prevent you”
Maggie brought paper, blotting-pad, and pen, and Mrs Howland presently wrote: ”I have given, on the eve of e to Mr