"Why should you mind, now, Celia?" she inquired, curiously. "I suppose all your people know Sir Jasper gave you the brooch, don't they?"
"No," Celia was obliged to admit, "I never told them."
"The idea! Why not?"
"I—I—I thought Joy might be jealous."
Lulu looked dubious. She did not believe this statement; in fact, she was beginning to have a very ugly suspicions of her friend, and frankly told her so.
"The very first time I see Mrs. Wallis I shall tell her about the fuss you made last night," she said, decidedly; "you upset the whole household. I thought then it couldn't be all fair and square about that brooch. Come, tell me why you are so anxious to make me promise to keep it a secret that you lost it."
Celia was at her wit's end what to say. She saw she was completely in Lulu's hands, and, at last, came to the conclusion that her only course was to take her fully into her confidence.
"If I tell you the reason why I don't want you to mention the brooch at all at the Moat House, will you faithfully promise not tell tales about me?" Celia questioned, uneasily.
Lulu demurred, but her curiosity overcame doubts as to the wisdom of making such promise, and she finally gave it. Then Celia explained the situation to her whilst listened in amazed silence.
"There, now you know all about it," said Celia, in conclusion. "I've told you what I wouldn't tell anyone else in the world, but you're my friend, and I've trusted you."