"Your friend, indeed!" Lulu cried. "Good gracious! What have you done? Don't you see that you've actually stolen the brooch? Why, you're nothing more nor less than a thief! Oh, you may get red and angry, but what I say is true! It's all very fine to talk of the brooch being yours some day. That some day isn't now. You've taken it without permission, and if Sir Jasper discovers that it's gone in your absence, he'll consider it has been stolen. I'm surprised at you, Celia, I am indeed. What a risky thing to do! If Sir Jasper finds you out, he'll never think anything of you again. And he's been so kind to you, too."
Celia had not anticipated Lulu would take the matter in this way, and she quailed beneath her indignant words.
"Really, I think you're more ungrateful than anyone I ever heard of in my life," Lulu continued, her pale blue eyes glowing with excitement. "Think of all that Sir Jasper has done for you and yours. And you were so poor before he had you at the Moat House! And he's so fond of you, too, and has made so much more of you than of Joy. Put the brooch back? I only hope you may have a chance of doing so! I knew you were selfish, Celia, but I never guessed you were so wicked as this."
"You've no right to speak to me so cruelly!" said Celia, hotly; "don't you see how unhappy I am?"
"So you ought to be!"
Thereupon began a quarrel which lasted nearly half an hour. Both girls lost their tempers, and said many hard, bitter things to each other which neither actually meant. It ended by Celia declaring she would write to her mother to send for her return to the Moat House, and by Lulu retorting that she should be glad when her visitor was gone. Accordingly Celia retired to her bedroom and commenced her letter; but before it was finished Lulu knocked at the door and demanded admittance.
"Come in, if you like," Celia replied, in an injured tone.
So Lulu entered, and crossing to her friend's side put her arms round her neck kissed her repentantly.
"Oh, Celia, forgive my wicked temper!" said with great earnestness. "I ought not to have spoken to you as I did; but I cannot imagine how you could have brought yourself to take the brooch. I know I'm very naughty myself, and do heaps of things father wouldn't approve of, but, oh, don't you see how wrong you've been?"
"Yes," Celia acknowledged, sighing, "of course I do."