lly; the wind,
which had come in gusts earlier in the evening, had died down. It took
Flower a very few minutes to reach the village, and she wasn't long in
discovering Mrs. Ricketts' humble abode.

That good woman had long retired to rest, but Flower's peremptory
summons on the door soon caused a night-capped head to protrude out of a
window, a burst of astonishment to issue from a wonder-struck pair of
lips, and a moment later the young lady was standing by Mrs. Ricketts'
fireside.

"I'm proud to see you, Miss, and that I will say. Set down, Miss, do
now, and I'll light up the fire in a twinkling."

"No, you needn't," said Flower. "I'm hot; I'm burning. Feel me; a fire
would drive me wild."

"To be sure, so you are, all in a fever like," said Mrs. Ricketts,
laying her rough hand for a moment on Flower's dainty arm. "You'll let
me light up the bit of a paraffin lamp, then, Miss, for it ain't often
as I have the chance of seeing a young lady come all the way from
Australy."

"You can light the lamp, if you like," said Flower. "And you can stare at
me as much as you please. I'm just like any one else, only wickeder.
I've come to you, Mrs. Ricketts, because you're Maggie's mother, and
Maggie's a good girl, and I thought perhaps you would help me."

"I'm obligated for the words of praise about my daughter, Miss. Yes, she
don't mean bad, Maggie don't. What can I do to help you, Miss? Anything
in my power you are kindly welcome to."

"Have you ever seen a diamond, Mrs. Ricketts?"

"I don't know, I'm sure, Miss."

"Diamonds are very valuable stones, you know."

"Maybe, Miss. They ain't in my way. I wish you'd let me light you a bit
of fire, Miss Flower. You'll have the chills presently, Miss, for you're
all of a burning fever now."

"You can do anything you like in the way of fire by-and-by. I have a
diamond here. Shall I show it to you?"

"Oh, law, Miss, I'm sure you are condescending."

"Come over close to the paraffin lamp. Now you shall see. Doesn't it
sparkle!"

Mrs. Ricketts dropped a curtsey to the gem, which, unpolished as it was,
cast forth strange reflections, giving her, as she afterwards explained,
a "queer feel" and a sense of chill down the marrow of her back.

"This is very valuable," said Flower. "I don't know what it is worth,
but my father gave it to my mother, and she gave it to me. She said it
would be well for me to have it in case of emergency. Emergency has
come, and I want to sell t