"Everyone will notice it to-night, though," remarked Lulu, "for see how the stones sparkle by gaslight! I said they would."
"It is a very handsome brooch for a little girl," Mr. Tillotson said. "I believe Sir Jasper showed it to me some years ago. Did it not belong to his late wife? Yes, I thought so. It is a most valuable ornament, let me tell you. I am no judge of diamonds, myself, but I distinctly remember Sir Jasper telling me these were of the first water, and worth—I really forget the amount he named, but I know it was a lot of money."
Celia was shrewd enough to see that Mr. Tillotson was amazed to find the butterfly brooch in her possession. During the evening she constantly caught his gaze fixed upon the sparkling jewel at her neck, until she longed to take it out, and put it in her pocket as she had done on the previous afternoon at the flower show. Would he speak of it to Sir Jasper? she wondered. The possibility of his ever doing so struck terror to her heart.
It is almost needless to say that Celia's guilty conscience would not allow her to enjoy the entertainment; and she found herself wishing that her sister was there in her place. Joy was so fond of music that the concert would have been a greatly appreciated treat to her.
Many eyes were turned from time to time upon the fair, golden-haired girl who sat between Lulu and Mr. Tillotson, her blue eyes fixed upon the performers. She certainly did not look in the least unhappy, for she smiled when either of her companions addressed her, so that they were utterly unconscious of the misgivings and fears by which she was tortured.
It was all over at last, and Celia found herself following Mr. Tillotson from the crowded concert hall with Lulu close behind. She drew a breath of relief when they passed through the doorway into the street, and her spirits began to revive. She was quite determined never on any account to be tempted to wear the butterfly brooch again. It had completely ruined her happiness that evening. How foolish she had been ever to touch it! She had had no right to do so, she had known that at the time she had taken possession of it, though she had tried to stifle her conscience by telling herself that as the ornament would be hers some day, she was therefore doing no harm. When Lulu slipped her arm through hers, and discussed the different performers at the concert, Celia scarcely heard a word she was saying. Her great terror was that Mr. Tillotson might betray her to Sir Jasper when next they met by some mention of the butterfly brooch. She recalled Mr. Tillotson's look of blank amazement when Lulu had informed him the trinket had been Sir Jasper's gift, and felt that there was danger ahead for her.
"Oh, why did I ever touch it!" thought the girl despairingly. "I wish I had left it alone. I ought not to have taken it. It was like stealing it, really. Oh, I never meant to be a thief!"
"It was a splendid concert, wasn't it?" Lulu said, as she and her friend went upstairs together on their return. "Joy would have enjoyed it, would she not? I wish she had been there."
"I was wishing that all the time," Celia answered; "when I hear good music I always think of Joy."
The two girls went into their respective rooms, Lulu humming one of the airs she had heard at the concert, whilst Celia, her face wearing an unusually sober expression, the moment she was alone raised her hands to her throat for the purpose of unfastening the butterfly brooch, and placing it in safety. What was her horror to feel nothing but the lace which trimmed the neck of her gown! For a moment she stood perfectly still, too terror-stricken to stir; then, pulling herself together, she turned up the gas, rushed to the dressing-table and gazed at her reflection in the mirror with eyes distended with fright and despair. There were no diamonds sparkling at her throat. The butterfly brooch was gone!