Gander dropped into a chair. "Lor!" Then with an enraged screech, "Don't tell me deceptions, whatever you do, mum. My nerves won't stand deceptions nohow." Here Gander put a large fat hand on her ample bosom, and observed pathetically, "I feel all of a wabble, as you might say."
"I wore this," said Mrs. Fane, fingering the dagger, "at a fancy ball, and threw it away along with some other rubbish. I suppose that is how it got into the dust-hole."
Had the cook been quite herself, and observant, she might have doubted this explanation, which was certainly weak. Mrs. Fane's maid would never have carried such a dazzling object to the dust-hole, had she seen it amidst any rubbish her mistress might have cast aside. But Gander, deceived by fortune, broke down sobbing at the disappointment of her hopes. "To think my 'eart should be cast up to be likewise cast down," she gurgled. "When I went with the ashbucket I sawr that objict aglittering like anything, being stuck in the side of the dust-hole, as it were." Mrs. Fane listened attentively. "The 'andle showed beautiful under some cabbige stalks, and I thought as I was made for life. O mum"--she clasped her hands, which were encased in green gloves--"let me take it to my jeweller, and see if he don't think them stones of price."
Mrs. Fane, shaking her head, quietly slipped the dagger into her pocket. "It's only rubbish," she insisted, "so I'll keep it here, as it seems to upset you. Go downstairs, Gander, and see after the dinner. I shall overlook your conduct this time, but don't let this sort of thing occur again. And you might look at your pledge while you're about it."
The cook rose quite crushed, but made one last effort to regain possession of the dagger. "Findings is keepings," she observed.
"Not in this house. And even had the jewels been real you would not have been able to keep them, seeing they were found on Mr. Fane's premises. You can tell the other servants that the dagger belongs to me, and is merely a theatrical article. Leave the room, Gander."
"I'ave been hurt in my tender part," sobbed the cook, "and now I have to go back and be a slave. All flesh is grass, mum, and----" Here she saw from the glitter in Mrs. Fane's eyes that the patience of her mistress was giving out, so she hastily retreated, and made things disagreeable in the kitchen. Mrs. Fane's explanation about the weapon was readily accepted in the kitchen, as none of the servants were intelligent, and Gander was well laughed at for her disappointment. That night the dinner was unusually good at Ajax Villa, as Gander, fearful of losing her place, wished to make amends.
When the cook departed Mrs. Fane reproduced the dagger, and looked at it musingly. While she was daintily feeling the point, Minnie came up and asked for the pretty thing to play with. "No, dear," said Mrs. Fane, putting the child aside, with a shade passing over her face, "it's mother's; and say nothing to Aunt Laura about it." This she repeated rapidly as she heard Laura's step in the winter-garden. Then kissing the child, she replaced the weapon in her pocket.
Laura, looking quiet and subdued, entered, dressed for the reception.
"No one here yet, Julia?" she asked, looking round.