by L. T. Meade
perhaps Mr Jordan, and perhaps Mr Burbery, some day before weleave; and on that occasion you shall wear the bangle, but not before.Now don't worry me, child. Let's get into bed, both of us, as quietlyas we can; it's later than usual."
Fanchon was so sleepy that she was glad to comply; Brenda herself wasalso thoroughly weary, and dropped sound asleep the moment her headtouched her pillow.
But downstairs in Mrs Dawson's little parlour, a deep consultation hadtaken place. The real bracelet, the lost bangle, lay absolutely on MrsDawson's lap. She was comparing the delicate engraving with the outlineof a similar engraving in Mademoiselle's notebook.
"It is the same," said Mademoiselle. "There is no doubt that thethief--it is that wicked governess, Brenda Carlton. Now, Madame, youcan, if you please, take this bangle to those persons who have put theannouncement in the newspaper; or you can deliver it up to the policeto-morrow morning, but if you are wise, you will do neither of thesethings."
"And what shall I do?" asked Mrs Dawson. "It's really a horrid thingto have happening in this house, but a guinea and a half each isn't tobe despised, is it, Mademoiselle?"
"I do agree that the reward shall be divided," said Mademoiselle; "but,as a matter of fact, it was I who made the so great discovery."
"I know that," said Mrs Dawson; "but you wouldn't have thought of it ifI had not put you on the scent."
"True, true," echoed Mademoiselle, "and I think not for a moment but ofdividing the spoil. Nevertheless, Madame, there are greater things tobe obtained than just a trumpery tree guineas, and my advice to you is:say notting--but leave the matter _absolument_ in my hands. I have myown plans, and they will include you. Think what discovery would mean--just _now_, in the height of your so short season. It would mean thatMademoiselle Carlton and her three pupils left your establishment. Itwould not redound to your credit. Your other boarders might take thefright. They would say she harbour the thief, how can we by anypossibility continue to reside under her roof?"
"You are right," said Mrs Dawson. "The whole thing is mostdisagreeable; I don't really know what to do."
"But I know how to assist you and myself to keep all _esclandres_ atbay. We court it not, Madame. It is not good for your beautiful home;but the breath of scandal, Madame, it is--oh, _assurement_, of the mostfatal!"
The consequence of this conversation was that Mademoiselle bound MrsDawson over to the most absolute secrecy, and thoroughly won over thatgood woman's confidence, who declared that she already felt she couldnot live without Mademoiselle, who went off to her own room with thebangle in her pocket.
Before she lay down to sleep that night she looked at it again. Shekissed it; she gloated over it. Finally, she locked it up, not in thedrawer which might be easily opened by another key, but in that smallleather bag where she kept her treasured hoardings and which she hardlyever allowed out of her sight.
Mademoiselle slept soundly that night, and went downstairs the nextmorning in radiant spirits. Now the two little girl Amberleys had onefrantic desire, and that was, to show Fanchon their brooches. IfFanchon had a shilling bangle, which she was so intensely proud of, whyshould not they be proud, more than proud of their half-crown brooches?Miss Carlton often left her pupils during the morning hours to their owndevices. She had letters to write, and shopping to do, and she oftenliked to stroll on the promenade alone, hoping that Harry, the perverse,might meet her there.
This very morning the girls found themselves in their bedroom alone.Mademoiselle had, of course, to a certain extent, made them promise thatthey would not wear the brooches in public; but that was a verydifferent matter from showing them to their own dear Fanchon, theirsister.
"Although she is a stuck-up thing," said Nina, "she is our own flesh andflood, and we'll put her to shame by showing the darlings to her,although she has not trusted us."
Accordingly, as Nina sat on the edge of her bed that morning, she turnedto Fanchon and said:
"When will that Penelope girl arrive?"
"I think she's coming to lunch," answered Fanchon. "I suppose she's asecond Brenda," exclaimed Josie. "Oh, I don't think she's at all likeher," answered Fanchon. "Besides, she is much, much younger."
"Brenda is very old indeed," said Nina. "She's twenty-one; I can hardlyimagine anybody being quite as old as that--it must be such an awfulweight of years on one's head."
"They say it isn't," replied Fanchon, who was becoming learned in allsorts of matters she had better have known nothing about. "Brenda saysthat you don't even begin to feel grown-up until you are past twenty."
"I suppose you have jolly times when you're out spreeing with her atnight," said Josie.
"Wonderful," said Fanchon.
"You wouldn't tell us anything about it, would you?"
"No," said Fanchon, "it is quite, quite secret."
"_I_ don't want to hear," said Nina. Then she added:
"Josie and I have a secret too--a beautiful, beautiful secret that _you_don't know anything about."
"A _secret_?" said Fanchon. "What nonsense!"
She thought of Joe Burbery, of the play, of the beautiful bangle. Whatsilly children her little sisters were to talk of having secrets.
"Yes, we have!" reiterated Nina; "haven't we, Josie?"
"Wonderful!" said Josie, smacking her lips.
"Well, tell it, you little geese," said Fanchon, "and have done withit."
"Indeed we won't," said Nina, "not unless you tell us yours."
"But I haven't a secret," said Fanchon.
"You haven't? Oh, what awful lies you tell! I'd be ashamed if I wereyou!" said Nina.
"Well, well--if I have--I can't tell it," said Fanchon, colouring.
"You can't?" said Josephine--"not to your own, own sisters? You might--you know."
Fanchon would not for worlds betray Brenda, either as regarded herintroduction of Joe Burbery, or the fact that she had taken her to aplay--for dearest papa did not approve of plays. But she would haveliked her sisters, in secret, in absolute secret, to behold the lovelybangle.
"I can't tell my secret," she said. "I have one--just a little one--butI can't, because I have promised."
"Then we can't tell you ours," said Nina. "And our secret is _lovely_!Isn't it, Joey?"
"Oh, ripping!" said Joey. "It's just golloptious! Won't you bejealous, though? You'll want to wear one of them sometimes."
"A thing to wear!" said Fanchon, colouring and trembling. "What sort ofthing?"
"That's our secret."
Fanchon got up from the chair where she was seated and began, in aperfunctory way, to tidy the hopeless room.
"I suppose we had best go out," she said. "Brenda said we were tofollow her to the sands. She says we're not to bathe this morning.Oh--and, Nina--you're to take your notebook and pencil--there are a lotof things to enter."
"I am going to lose that account-book," said Nina. "I won't be botheredany more--horrid Brenda!! I had dear Mademoiselle as my governess."
"Mademoiselle d'Etienne?" exclaimed Fanchon. "What do you know abouther? Brenda says she's not a bit nice. Brenda distrusts herdreadfully."
"Well, and she doesn't like Brenda," exclaimed Nina. The moment shesaid this, Fanchon walked up to her young sister and said sternly:
"What have you seen of Mademoiselle? Out with it!"
"I won't tell!" said Nina. "You're not to question me--I won't tell!You have all your fun, and I don't mention it--I can if I like--I canwrite to dear papa and tell him, and he'll come over pretty quick--youhad best not worry me."
"Never mind," said Fanchon, who didn't at all like this threat on Nina'spart; more particularly as she knew that her little sister was quitecapable of carrying it into effect. "Never mind," she repeated. "Butyou might as well tell me that little wonderful secret."
"I'll tell if you'll tell," said Josie. "There! that's fair."
"And _I'll_ tell if you'll tell," exclaimed Nina.
Josephine walked softly up and down.
"W
hy shouldn't we three have secrets all to our three selves?" she saidthen.
"Oh, if I thought it wouldn't go to anybody else, of course I shouldn'tmind," said Fanchon.
"Why should it go to anybody else? We just want you to know--it is sobeautiful--so very
