"What were you doing here?"
"I was goin' out an' Ethel heard me an' came in an' stopped me—an'—"
"Where were you going?" persisted the old lady.
"Just out—out there—" and Peg pointed to the open windows.
Mrs. Chichester had been examining Peg minutely. She suddenly exclaimed:
"Why, that is Ethel's cloak."
"Sure it is," replied Peg, "and this is her hat I've got an' here's her bag—" Peg was striving her utmost to divert Mrs. Chichester's attention from Ethel, who was in so tense and nervous a condition that it seemed as if she might faint at any moment. She thrust the dressing-bag into the old lady's hand. Mrs. Chichester opened it immediately and found just inside it Ethel's jewel-box. She took it out and held it up accusingly before Peg's eyes: "Her jewel-box! Where did you get this?"
"I took it," said Peg promptly.
"Took it?"
"Yes, aunt, I took it!"