"Oh, how thoughtful you are!" the little girl interposed, earnestly. "And so good to us all! Eric was saying to me last night that he was never was so ashamed about anything in his life as about Celia's behaviour. I'm sure I feel the same. I—"
"Celia's conduct is no reflection on her family," the old man put in, quickly, "and I do not think that even she is as ungrateful as she appears. I had hoped to have kept you all with me, and it is certainly Celia's fault that the plan is impracticable. However, she is very repentant."
"Oh, very! Everyone says that since the night of the fire she has quite changed. She and I have had several long talks together, Uncle Jasper, and she has told me all about the butterfly brooch, and how she came to take it. If you only knew how fond she is of pretty things you would understand how she gave way to temptation."
"There is no excuse for her, Joy. I fear Lulu Tillotson, with her love of finery, has not been a good companion for her."
"I think Lulu rather flattered Celia," Joy said, thoughtfully; "she used to tell her how pretty she was, and that she ought to wear some handsomer clothes; but she was very shocked about the brooch. She was here to see me yesterday, and was so kind, and—and sorry for me. I'm going to write to her, and—oh what do you think? I've heard from Jane—our old servant, you know—she's out of a situation, and mother has asked if she will come and wait on me. It's very bad for me to be so helpless," she concluded, with a sigh.
"I suppose you have had a lot of visitors these last few days to say good-bye?"
"Oh, yes! Last night Miss Pring and Miss Mary were here."
"Ah, Miss Mary Pring is sorry to lose her pupils; but I hear she is not going to look-out for another situation."
"No," Joy replied, with a beaming smile; "but who told you that, Uncle Jasper?"
"Miss Pring, whom I encountered on my road here to-night. She was full of the news of her niece's engagement to the Vicar."