"It's precisely like it, Sister," said Edith, who sat near Mrs.
Aldrich. "Isn't that queer?"
"It's an old keepsake," said Mrs. Aldrich with deliberation. "It belonged to my mother. See, here are her initials on the slide, E. A. for Emma Avery."
Edith looked with interest but Estelle turned pale. Thoughtful Win pushed a glass of water within reach.
"Star's has initials too," Edith remarked innocently. "A. A., I think they are. Anyway, it was Grandmother's chain."
Mrs. Aldrich turned to Estelle, who perfectly colorless, was staring at her. "Child," she said rather peremptorily, "come up to my room and let us compare these old trinkets."
Still speechless, Estelle mechanically arose. Amid dead silence the two left the dining-room. Fran turned to her mother, amazed at the look of excited pleasure on her face. "What does it all mean?" she demanded. "Is it a secret?"
"Just a mild little conspiracy," replied Mrs. Thayne. "What it means, is that Mrs. Aldrich was your mother's first cousin, Edith, so she is your and Estelle's second cousin. Just by chance I guessed from Estelle's unusual chain that the one Carrie Aldrich wears came from the same source. When Estelle told me that her great-grandfather gave one to each of his two daughters, the whole thing flashed on me."
"But that," said Edith, with her sweet childish faith, "is a miracle."
"Perhaps," smiled Mrs. Thayne. "I only know that we shall leave St.
Aubin's happier because you and Mrs. Aldrich have found each other out."
A shower of eager questions fell from Frances and Roger but a long time passed before anything was seen of Estelle and Mrs. Aldrich. When they reappeared to the group awaiting them in the drawing-room, Estelle had plainly been crying and Mrs. Aldrich's eyes looked suspiciously red.