Part 40 (2/2)
”Say,” she remarked to the shopman, ”I witnessed that little transaction between you and Miss Howland I want to buy that brooch for ten pounds”
”I am sorry, madam,” said the man, ”but it is not for sale just at present”
”Thatcriht to have given her four tied his shoulders
Miss Lapharew redder than ever, ”I happen to know Miss Howland's address,” she said Then she went aithout giving' him tier Mr Pearce turned to his brother, took the little brooch froave it to the elder Mr Pearce to examine
”There's a find here,” he said; ”only, so ladies from Aylmer House come by a treasure of this sort?”
The other ood bit,”
he said ”What did you give her for it?”
”Five pounds; but soht not to have taken it for that sum”
”It is worth at least two hundred,” said the elder Mr Pearce ”Where did you say she lived?”
”She is one of the young ladies at Aylmer House--Miss Howland”
”What! froive me that brooch, Alfred,” said his brother ”We'll have to consider what is to be done We can't rob the young lady of it We had best consult Mrs Ward”
”Oh, as to that,” said the younger Pearce, ”that sounds alirl too little money”
”Well, lock it up for the present,” said the elder Pearce; ”but I airl robbed”
”She was up to soer man, ”and evidently did not know the value of the brooch Why, I think she'd have taken a pound for it But what she did know the value of was her precious ti and at being asked for her address It is plain she got out without leave; and although the broochto her--I am sure I hope it does--she has broken a rule, you irls are always up to larks Well, I'd never have thought it of one of Mrs Ward's girls”
”It is a pity you didn't consultto do now is to put the brooch carefully away We'll consider what is best to be done with it; but as to giving the young lady only five pounds for e can sell any day at Christie's for a couple of hundred, that is not to be thought of”
CHAPTER XIX
THE LETTER