"What do ye think of that?" said Peg under her breath. She surreptitiously opened out the miniature and looked at it, then she scrutinised her aunt. She shook her head.
"Ye don't look a bit like me poor mother did."
"What have you there?" asked Mrs. Chichester.
"Me poor mother's picture," replied Peg softly.
"Let me see it!" and Mrs. Chichester held out her hand for it. Peg showed it to Mrs. Chichester, all the while keeping a jealous hold on a corner of the frame. No one would ever take it away from her. The old lady looked at it intently. Finally she said:
"She had changed very much since I last saw her—and in one year."
"Sorrow and poverty did that, Aunt Monica," and the tears sprang unbidden into Peg's eyes.
"AUNT will be quite sufficient. Put it away," and Mrs. Chichester released the miniature.
Peg hid it immediately in her bosom.
"Sit down," directed the old lady in the manner of a judge preparing to condemn a felon.