f. She did not in the
least miss that one small brooch which her father had left her; but
she thought with a feeling of intense satisfaction of her treasures.
She need no longer be a penniless girl. She had but at rare intervals
to visit Pearce the jeweler, and her pocket would be well lined. She
had no romantic feeling with regard to those beautiful things which
her father had collected on his travels. She had been so poor all her
life that money to her represented power. She even thought of getting
a couple of new dresses made by a fashionable dressmaker. She resolved
to consult Lucy on the subject. She was never quite as well dressed as
the other girls, although very plain clothes were the order of the
hour at school.

Immediately after supper those girls who required to look over their
lessons went into the schoolroom and spent a quiet time there; but the
others, as a rule, joined Mrs. Ward in the drawing-room. There those
who could play were requested to do so, and those who could sing did
likewise. Mrs. Ward was very fond of needlework. She could do rare and
wonderful embroideries, and knew some of the tapestry stitches which
were in vogue hundreds of years ago. The girls who cared to be taught
those things she was only too glad to instruct; but she never pressed
any one into her working-party. This was always an hour of relaxation
for those girls who had all their lessons ready for the following
day.

Maggie, who was exceedingly clever and learned with the utmost ease,
was generally a member of the drawing-room coterie. She wore a white
dress on this evening, with a somewhat crude pink sash round her
waist. She hated the crudity of the color, and it occurred to her that
she could get some soft and becoming sashes out of part of the money
which Pearce had given her for the brooch.

By-and-by she found herself near Aneta. Aneta was working a
center-piece which she meant to present to Lady Lysle at Christmas.
Maggie was no good whatever at needlework, and seldom joined the band
of needlewomen. But Aneta now motioned the girl to come and sit by her
side. Maggie did so. Aneta looked full in her face.

"Is your headache better, Maggie?" she asked.

Maggie had to reflect for a time, she had so absolutely forgotten that
she had pretended to have a headache that afternoon! Then she said,
with a slight flush and a suspicious narrowing of her eyes, "Oh yes;
thank you, I am quite all right again." Maggie had not heard