, she did not go to Richmond; it was too far off, and she was
feeling a little tired. Besides, the thought of her father's wonderful
treasures filled her mind. She determined to go to South Kensington
and look at similar jewels and ornaments which she believed she could
find there. It occurred to her, too, that it might be possible some
day to consult the manager of the jewel department with regard to the
worth of the things which her dear father had sent home; but this she
would not do to-day.

Her visit to the South Kensington Museum made her feel positively
assured that she had articles of great value in the tin boxes.

Meanwhile Mrs. Howland waited impatiently for Mr. Martin. She was
puzzled about Maggie, and yet relieved. She wondered much what Maggie
could have said to Mr. Martin that day when she breakfasted with him.
She was not really alarmed. But had she been able to look into Mr.
Martin's mind she would have felt a considerable amount of surprise.
The worthy grocer, although an excellent man of business, knew little
or nothing about law. Maggie's words had made him distinctly
uncomfortable. Suppose, after all, the girl could claim a right in her
father's beggarly hundred and fifty pounds a year? Perhaps the child
of the man who had settled that little income on his wife must have
some sort of right to it? It would be horrible to consult lawyers;
they were so terribly expensive, too.

There was a man in the shop, however, of the name of Howard. He was
the principal shopwalker, and Mr. Martin had a great respect for him.
Without mentioning names, he put the case before him--as he himself
expressed it--in a nutshell.

Howard thought for a few minutes, then said slowly that he had not the
slightest doubt that a certain portion of the money should be spent on
the child--in fact, that the child had a right to it.

Martin did not like this. A heavy frown came between his brows. The
girl was a smart and clever girl, not a bit like Little-sing, and she
could make herself very disagreeable. Her modest request for sixty
pounds a year did not seem unreasonable. He thought and thought, and
the more he thought the more inclined he felt to give Maggie her way.

When he arrived at Mrs. Ross's house he did not look quite as cheerful
as usual. He went upstairs, as Tildy expressed it, "heavy-like"; and
although both she and Mrs. Ross watched for that delightful scene when
he was "Bo-peep" to "Little-sing," Martin entered