MISS PEGGY'S DAUGHTER
LADY MARGARET BROWNING kept her word and called again. This time she came rather later in the afternoon, shortly before the boys returned from school, and Mrs. Mead remembered to tell her that her mother's old nurse occupied one of the attics.
"Oh, I've heard my father mention her!" she cried; "he was speaking of her only the other day, and wondering if she was still living. My mother loved her ever so dearly. Oh, please, please let me see her!"
So it came about that when the boys arrived home, on going straight upstairs to Mrs. Winter's attic, as they usually did to fetch Stray for a walk before tea, they found Lady Margaret Browning there. She was seated close to Mrs. Winter, and the two were talking of "Miss Peggy." Stray, standing with his head resting on her knee, was looking up into her face approvingly.
"Come in, both of you!" Mrs. Winter said, as the boys stood hesitating in the doorway; and they obeyed, Jackie following his brother shyly.
Lady Margaret rose and shook hands with Bob, then she kissed Jackie, and, seating herself again, drew the little fellow close to her and kept her arm around him whilst she talked to the others.
Jackie stood very still, every now and again glancing up into the sweet, fair face of Mrs. Winter's visitor, which, each time he did so, smiled tenderly at him. So this was the lady who had given Bob so much money in return for her brooch. Yes, she was wearing the brooch now. As his eyes noted it she put up her hand and touched it.
"I've had the fastener made safer," she said to Mrs. Winter. "Oh, I was so delighted to get it back! I shall always feel thankful to Bob for having found it."
"I'm so glad I did," said Bob, adding quickly, "I don't mean because of the reward."
"Aunt Martha's kept all the money!" Jackie stated abruptly.