d, searching for a way of escape, and at that
moment Noreen's hand pressed on her arm, and she found herself being led
gently towards the house.

"Poor old Darsie, then! She looks quite dazed!" said Noreen's voice.
"No wonder, after all that fuss. You've been kissed to pieces, poor
dear, and howled over, too. Silly things! howling when things are lost,
and howling again when they are found! I've no patience with them; but,
oh, my dear, I _do_ bless you for what you've done! You've no idea how
relieved we shall be. It was such a _stigma_ to have your guests robbed
under your own roof, and by one of your own men, too. Mother has never
been the same since--worried herself into nerves, and fancied every one
blamed her, and thought she'd been careless. You can't think _how_
happy she'll be writing to the people who aren't here to-day telling
them that their things are found. She'll feel a new creature."

"I'm so glad. She's a dear. Wasn't she sweet and dignified among them
all? Oh, dear! I'm all churned up. I thought as I couldn't find a
treasure I'd have a little joke on my own account, and after all I found
the biggest treasure of all, Noreen! how much money were those things
worth?"

"Oh, my dear, don't ask me! Mother's pearls alone are worth three
thousand, and that's nothing to the rest. Mrs Ferriers' rubies are the
most valuable, I believe. Altogether it must be a fortune--to say
nothing of the associations. Isn't it strange to think of? An hour ago
you were a stranger whom scarcely any one knew even by sight, and now in
a flash you have become a celebrity, a heroine--the pet of the county!"

"Am I? Really? It sounds agreeable. I'll write to-night and tell Vie
Vernon, and sign myself `The Pet of the County.' She _will_ be
impressed. Pity it wasn't my own county, where it would be of more use.
I shall probably never see these good people again."

"Fiddle!" cried Noreen derisively. "No chance of that. Whether you
like it or no, my dear, this day has settled your fate. You can never
be a mere acquaintance any more. You've done us a service which will
bind us together as long as we live. Henceforth a bit of you belongs to
us, and we'll see that we get it!"

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

A DREAM FULFILLED.

The next week brought with it a succession of bewildering excitements.
From morn till night, as it seemed, the bell rang, and visitors were
ushered in to congratulate Lady Hayes and her niec