"At a shop."
Christina's tones were faltering.
"Did Puggy say I was to tell you?" she asked.
"He had better answer for himself. Come into the sitting-room; I left him there."
Christina followed her stepmother, and in a few minutes the whole story was told.
"The game is up!" Puggy exclaimed tragically; but he was relieved that the confession had to be made to his sister, and not to the Squire.
But even she looked very vexed when she heard about the watch and the bangle, and insisted upon telling her husband. And Mr. Maclahan spoke very sharply to the children about it.
"When you knew you had not the money to buy it, you ought to have had the pluck to say so. Now, Puggy, come with me to the jeweller's at once, and we will see if we cannot get these things back. If you had asked me for money, Christina, I would have given it to you gladly. I cannot bear this underhand behaviour."
Christina was by this time in tears, and her stepmother interceded for her.
"There, Herbert, not much harm is done! Miss Bertha must get that bonnet at all costs. I will go shares; or, if it is to be the children's present, I will give them each a tip which will bring them out of debt. You must get the bangle and watch back, of course."