established habit in the eyes. Then, with a sharp little jerk
of her head and a backward reach of her bare beautiful
arms, she undid the clasp and, taking off the necklace,
laid it on the table. "If you do you're a goose."
"Well, of the two--!" said our young lady, gathering it up
with a sigh. And as if to get it, for the pang it gave, out
of sight as soon as possible, she shut it up, clicking the
lock, in the drawer of her own little table; after which,
when she turned again, her companion looked naked
and plain without it. "But what will you say?" it then
occurred to her to demand.
"Downstairs--to explain?" Mrs. Guy was after all trying at
least to keep her temper. "Oh I'll put on something else
and say the clasp's broken. And you won't of course
name ME to him," she added.
"As having undeceived me? No--I'll say that, looking at
the thing more carefully, it's my own private idea."
"And does he know how little you really know?"
"As an expert--surely. And he has always much the
conceit of his own opinion."
"Then he won't believe you--as he so hates to. He'll
stick to his judgement and maintain his gift, and we shall
have the darlings back!" With which reviving assurance
Mrs. Guy kissed her young friend for good-night.
She was not, however, to be gratified or justified by any
25
HYLAND
