At three, the two younger girls, in their Sunday best, started in high feather for their call. It was a long walk to Emily Drayton’s, but the children enjoyed the crisp, cold day and the brisk exercise. Unfortunately, when they arrived at their destination, they found that Emily was out with her mother, and would not be home till late in the afternoon. Therefore there was nothing to be done but to turn around and travel home again.
“This isn’t very exciting, after all,” said Cricket, mournfully. “Here it’s nearly four o’clock, and most of your last afternoon is gone already. What let’s do next, Hilda?”
“Oh, I don’t know. I wish we’d gone to the museum with the girls. What’s the matter, Cricket?”
Cricket had suddenly stopped, and was poking at a crack in the sidewalk.
“I thought I caught a glimpse of something shiny in that crack. I did! See, Hilda!” and Cricket extricated something, triumphantly, and held it up.
Her own amazement grew as she looked.
“What? Not really, Cricket?” cried Hilda, and the two heads clashed over the treasure-trove.
It was a ring with a fairly good-sized diamond.
Cricket whooped, there and then, in her excitement. Fortunately the street was a quiet one, and no one was near.
“A diamond ring, Hilda! A really, truly diamond! Hooray! It’s as big as the one papa gave mamma on her birthday. I wonder if he’ll let me wear it.”