“Where did you find it?” asked Mr. Bangs.
“I found it,” she began, then paused. “It was found,” she added. “You may go, Miss Alta. Thank you very much. And if you care to go back to town, Randolph will drive you in at once.”
When Fannie had left the room, the widow beat her hands together, and the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I found it in Mary Price’s bag,” she said. “And Miss Gray tells me that it is true. Mary has been suspected of stealing all autumn.”
CHAPTER XIX.—MARY BEFORE HER JUDGES.
It was late when the young people returned from Mrs. Ruggles’. They were in gay spirits and Mrs. St. Clair could hear them talking and laughing in the hall, first the motorists and then the ones who had driven. She did not go down to meet them and they scattered to their rooms to wash their faces and smooth their wind-blown locks. There was no time to dress for supper.
“I don’t see how I can face them,” she said to herself. “I’m so unhappy, and I’m afraid they will notice that I have been crying.”
But she bathed her temples in cold water, put on a cheery-colored silk dress, and went downstairs when the gong sounded for supper. Down trooped the boys and girls with sparkling eyes and glowing cheeks. The sound of their happy laughter reached her below and she pressed her hand to her heart and sighed deeply. Then her expression hardened:
“Little wretch,” she exclaimed. “She should be well punished, and she shall be, too.”
“‘Soup of the evening, beautiful soup,’” sang Merry, dancing a jig in the hall: