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taken it off she went to the dressing-table to do her pretty hair.
On the table between the ring-stand and the pincushion lay a green leather case. Mother opened it.
'Oh, how lovely! she cried. It was a ring, a large pearl with shining many-lighted diamonds set round it.
Wherever did this come from? mother asked, trying it on her wedding finger, which it fitted beautifully.
However did it come here?'
'I don't know, said each of the children truthfully.
'Father must have told Martha to put it here, mother said. I'll run down and ask her.'
'Let me look at it, said Anthea, who knew Martha would not be able to see the ring. But when Martha
was asked, of course she denied putting the ring there, and so did Eliza and cook.
Mother came back to her bedroom, very much interested and pleased about the ring. But, when she
opened the dressing-table drawer and found a long case containing an almost priceless diamond
necklace, she was more interested still, though not so pleased. In the wardrobe, when she went to put
away her bonnet', she found a tiara and several brooches, and the rest of the jewellery turned up in
various parts of the room during the next half-hour. The children looked more and more uncomfortable,
and now Jane began to sniff.
Mother looked at her gravely.
'Jane, she said, I am sure you know something about this. Now think before you speak, and tell me the
truth.'
'We found a Fairy, said Jane obediently.
'No nonsense, please, said her mother sharply.
'Don't be silly, Jane, Cyril interrupted. Then he went on desperately. Look here, mother, we've never
seen the things before, but Lady Chittenden at Peasmarsh Place lost all her jewellery by wicked burglars
last night. Could this possibly be it?'
All drew a deep breath. They were saved.
'But how could they have put it here? And why should they? asked mother, not unreasonably. Surely it
would have been easier and safer to make off with it?'
'Suppose, said Cyril, they thought it better to wait for-for sunset-nightfall, I mean, before they went off
with it. No one but us knew that you were coming back to-day.'
'I must send for the police at once, said mother distractedly. Oh, how I wish daddy were here!'
'Wouldn't it be better to wait till he DOES come? asked Robert, knowing that his father would not be
home before sunset.
'No, no; I can't wait a minute with all this on my mind, cried mother. All this was the heap of
jewel-cases on the bed. They put them all in the wardrobe, and mother locked it. Then mother called
Martha.
'Martha, she said, has any stranger been into MY room since I've been away? Now, answer me
truthfully.'
'No, mum, answered Martha; leastways, what I mean to say-'
She stopped.
'Come, said her mistress kindly; I see someone has. You must tell me at once. Don't be frightened. I'm
sure you haven't done anything wrong.'
Martha burst into heavy sobs.
'I was a-goin to give you warning this very day, mum, to leave at the end of my month, so I was-on
account of me being going to make a respectable young man happy. A gamekeeper he is by trade,
mum-and I wouldn't deceive you-of the name of Beale. And it's as true as I stand here, it Was your
coming home in such a hurry, and no warning given, out of the kindness of his heart it was, as he says,
Martha, my beauty, he says-which I ain't and never was, but you know how them men will go on-"I
can't see you a-toiling and a-moiling and not lend a elping and; which mine is a strong arm and it's
yours, Martha, my dear, says he. And so he helped me a-cleanin of the windows, but outside, mum,
the whole time, and me in; if I never say another breathing word it's the gospel truth.'
'Were you with him the whole time? asked her mistress.
'Him outside and me in, I was, said Martha; except for fetching up a fresh pail and the leather that that
slut of a Eliza d hidden away behind the mangle.'
'That will do, said the children's mother. I am not pleased with you, Martha, but you have spoken the
truth, and that counts for something.'
When Martha had gone, the children clung round their mother.
'Oh, mummy darling, cried Anthea, it isn't Beale's fault, it isn't really! He's a great dear; he is, truly and
honourably, and as honest as the day. Don't let the police take him, mummy! oh, don't, don't, don't!'
It was truly awful. Here was an innocent man accused of robbery through that silly wish of Jane's, and it
was absolutely useless to tell the truth. All longed to, but they thought of the straws in the hair and the
shrieks of the other frantic maniacs, and they could not do it.
'Is there a cart hereabouts? asked mother feverishly. A trap of any sort? I must drive in to Rochester
and tell the police at once.'
All the children sobbed, There's a cart at the farm, but, oh, don't go!-don't go!-oh, don't go!-wait till
daddy comes home!'
Mother took not the faintest notice. When she had set her mind on a thing she always went straight
through with it; she was rather like Anthea in this respect.
'Look here, Cyril, she said, sticking on her hat with long sharp violet-headed pins, I leave you in charge.
Stay in the dressing-room. You can pretend to be swimming boats in the bath, or something. Say I gave
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