"Do you think there is a chance of the brooch being found?" Celia asked. She had ceased crying now, but her face looked very shocked and white. "Oh, how I wish I had not worn it!" she cried in great distress.
"'MY BROOCH.' GASPED CELIA, SOBBING AS IF HER HEART WOULD BREAK. 'I'VE LOST IT!'"
"I wish so, too," Mr. Tillotson replied gravely. "In fact, I cannot imagine what induced Sir Jasper to make you such a valuable present. I cannot possibly tell whether it is likely we shall ever see it again or not; it all depends who finds it; should it fall into honest hands of course it will be returned, if not—"
He paused, shaking his head, and presently bade the girls have their suppers and go to bed. They followed him into the dining-room, but neither Celia nor Lulu could eat, though they made a pretence of doing so.
"I will have some bills printed in the morning, giving a description of the brooch, and offering a suitable reward for its return," Mr. Tillotson said, kindly. "Cheer up, my dear, perhaps you may get it again. Anyway, do not grieve about it, for you are not to blame."
The tears rushed to Celia's eyes afresh as she listened, and she wondered what he would think of her if he knew how greatly she was to blame.
"Uncle Jasper will be so angry," she faltered.
"No, I do not think he will be. He will be sorry, I have no doubt, but he is a just man, and not one to be angry without a cause. He gave you the brooch, and I am sure you set great store by it; you could not help losing it."
Lulu lingered in her friend's bedroom until she was in bed, and tried to console her all she could, but Celia was not to be comforted.