"Can't I show you anything else to-day, miss?"
"No, I think not, thank you, Mrs. Treffry. I am sorry to have troubled you to take the teapot from the window."
"Oh, it has been no trouble, I'm sure, miss."
Marigold was turning away when the door opened, and her Aunt Pamela entered the shop. She glanced inquiringly from her niece to the teapot which Mrs. Treffry held in her hand. Marigold's colour rose, as it usually did on the slightest emotion from whatever cause, whilst Mrs. Treffry began to explain the situation in her usually wordy manner.
"You have excellent taste, Marigold," Miss Pamela said, smiling, when Mrs. Treffry had concluded speaking, which was not for some minutes, as she had again recounted the story of the young man who had advised her of the teapot's value. "This is a charming piece of old-fashioned china, and well worth a guinea, I'm sure."
"I daresay it is, Aunt Pamela; but I did not think it would be more than a few shillings."
"Why did you want it? Was it your intention to make a present of it to someone?"
"Yes—" with a slight hesitation in her manner; adding in a lower tone, "I—I wanted to give it to mother."
Miss Pamela turned abruptly away, and a stab of jealousy shot through her heart, for it had occurred to her that her little niece might have wished to present the teapot to her aunts.
"Will you let me examine it?" she said to Mrs. Treffry, who willingly complied.