ut the necessary money for the
entertainment into a bag on a certain Tuesday. Maggie must, therefore,
go out on Monday in order to sell her brooch. Her absence from the
little party in the girls' sitting-room was explained by Molly
Tristram, who said that Maggie was upstairs lying down. No one
troubled to make any comment with regard to this. Any girl might 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 most good-naturedly leaving them the sitting-room to themselves
for this purpose.

Maggie, in her distant bedroom, felt the quiet in the house. She had
been lying 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-room, when Lucy Johnson and the other
governesses were either reposing in their bedrooms, or were out, or
were reading. There was, of course, the chance that Maggie might meet
some one; but, having calculated all possibilities, she thought that
she could most likely get out unobserved.

During her 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
missed, and, in fact, could join her companions in the girls'
sitting-room long 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 tradesmen's entrance, and got into the street. Then, putting
wings 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 them. Maggie felt
impatient. She awaited her turn as best she could. How she disliked
those showy-looking people who were 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