Part 40 (1/2)
”If you ie,” said Miss Johnson, ”you had better have them in your own bedroom They would be at least safe there Put them into your locked drawer, dear; I think it will hold both these boxes”
”Thank you very ie She put the ten bracelets into their tin box, and the necklets and other curios into the other, locked each, and took them upstairs ”It would never, never do,” she said to herself, ”for s I airls to tempt me to show them”
After a few minutes she came downstairs Her stepfather's allowance of pocket-money was certainly not ample, and she knew that at the party which was to be so specially distinguished she e in the school, a lion's share towards the expenses There was a quaint little brooch in one of her boxes containing one large ruby and set with diamonds which she intended to sell in order to provide herself with funds But what use would any of her treasures be if they were consigned to the safe at Aylreat deal of consultation, it was resolved that the girls were to -rooht refreshie and her subjects Afterwards they were to play games, have recitations, and amuse themselves in different ways until five o'clock; when a curtain which would be put across a portion of the rooie, Kathleen, and both the Tristrairls, ere all adaptable for this purpose, were to take special parts The tableaux were under the ly clever, and had studied the scenes--which she took froreat care The rehearsing for the tableaux was a little difficult, but this was done each evening after tea, when Maggie and her subjects had the sitting-room to themselves
Immediately after the tableaux there would be that wonderful supper, at which Mrs Ward was to be the principal guest, and then the happy evening would end with all sorts of dances and frolics
Now, all these things would cost ed, after brief consultation, that each girl was to subscribe in an equal ratio towards the proposed entertainures as well as a taste for tableaux vivants, suggested that, to do the entertain like fifteen shi+llings each This was ireed upon, and even the Tristrams did not feel embarrassed by the amount which was decided upon, for Mr Tristrairls to an expensive school if he could not give them a sufficient supply of pocket-money to make them feel independent The only person as short of funds on this occasion was Maggie, for her stepfather had arranged that she was to receive her allowance at the end of the ters to go to school with; but these she had already spent on chocolates, which were considered essential during the leisure hours
It is true that Mrs Ward would have advanced a little ie could not bear to ask her She had a great dislike to the subject ofmentioned in Mrs Ward's presence She was afraid beyond everything else that the fact of her being received at such a select school for forty pounds a year ht reach the ears of her fellow-pupils Whatlittle Oriental brooch, which was one of the treasures in one of those tin boxes? But Maggie could not ainst the rules at Ayl or even to leave the house unaccoie had, however,found out, and she thought she could do so now She planned the whole thing rather cleverly She had a room to herself; which of course made it easier for her, and there were always the leisure hours She ht indisposition, to go downstairs by the back way, and sell her brooch on a certain afternoon during the leisure hours She irls had proposed to put the necessaryon a certain Tuesday Maggie o out on Monday in order to sell her brooch Her absence fro-rooie was upstairs lying down No one troubled to ht have a headache, and Mrs Ward did not wish her girls to be catechised as to how they spent their leisure hours Besides, Janet Burns was occupying all their attention with the tableaux vivants, Queen Aneta's girls -rooie, in her distant bedroo down; now she rose noiselessly This was the time when the servants had their tea, when Mrs Ward was busy writing letters or resting in her own sitting-rooovernesses were either reposing in their bedroo There was, of course, the chance that Maggiecalculated all possibilities, she thought that she couldher expeditions with Miss Lucy Johnson she had noticed a jeweller's shop not far away, and resolved to go to him with her precious brooch It was a very respectable shop, and she was certain he would give her fair value She could be back again before she was irls'
sitting-roo before the leisure hours had expired The days were now getting very short, but this fact was in Maggie's favor rather than otherwise
She ran downstairs unnoticed by any one, opened a side-door which was used as a tradess to her feet, she quickly turned the corner, left the square where Aylmer House was situated, and reached the jeweller's shop She entered There were a few people standing by the counter; and the jeweller, a certain Mr Pearce, was attending to theie felt impatient She awaited her turn as best she could How she disliked those showy-looking people ere purchasing goods of some value, whereas she only wanted to sell! She could scarcely restrain her great impatience, and was relieved when another shopman came forward
He asked her what he could do for her She immediately showed him the quaint little brooch set with rubies and dia abruptly and the color flaive me for it?”
”Ohjewels in Pearce's shop, ”what a lovely curio! Wherever now did you get it fros to me It was left to ie took up the brooch and examined it carefully He took it into another room, where he subjected it to various tests He then caive you five pounds for this, htly by it”
”Oh listening
”What is your address, ive her address ”I haven't, stolen that brooch,” she said ”It belongs to ht to sell it”
”Of course, miss, I shall never trouble you in any way, but I reallyladies like yourself it is essential that everything should be above-board and quite correct”
”Well,” said Maggie in a hurried voice, ”take the brooch and give et back as quickly as I can I am one of Mrs
Ward's pupils at Aylie with all respect ”And your own naie ”Miss Howland”
The ie five sovereigns She was hurrying fro near all the tireat attention, followed her
”I say, young lady,” she exclailish things That man cheated you, I take it If you had offered iven you fifteen pounds for it, not five If you have any haht from the States, and would like to take a collection of beautiful things hoie in a hurried voice
She ran back to Aylmer House as quickly as she could As soon as she was quite out of sight the lady re-entered the shop