"This is one of your little school friends, isn't it, Janet?" Mrs. Forrester asked. "Oh, you have a note for me? Wait a minute."
Eleanor would rather have made her escape at once, but she obediently remained while Mrs. Forrester read the note. "Why, I don't know anything about this," said the lady. "What does your mamma mean? What ring is it she mentions?"
"Janet lost a pearl ring at our house," Eleanor answered.
"Did she? I didn't know she had one," said Mrs. Forrester laughing. "That is one of your fairy tales, Janet."
"I did have a pearl ring, and that nigger girl stole it," Janet returned.
Eleanor flushed up. "She means Bubbles, and I know she didn't steal it."
"You are a silly little creature, Janet," said Mrs. Forrester airily. "Where did you get your valuable ring?"
"I bought it for five cents."
Mrs. Forrester laughed again. "So precious it must have been. Here, take this five cents and go buy another, and that will end the matter."
"I don't want another, I want that one."