"Well, I can't wait more than a minute, Mrs. Collins. I'll just run up and say good-night to Susy, and then I must be off."
"Shall I light you up, miss?"
"No, thank you, I can see my way perfectly."
Ermengarde ran up the little wooden ladder-like stairs, and bounded somewhat noisily into Susy's bedroom.
"Here I am, Susy; now give me the miniature at once. I'll hide it under my waterproof cloak."
"I can't reach to it, miss," said Susy. "It's where you put it this morning, atween the mattress and the paillasse, and I had the greatest work keeping mother's hands off it, for she was bent on making the bed all over again."
"Well, I'll take it now. Yes, here it is."
Ermengarde pulled the little case from under the bed.
"O Susy!" she said, uttering an exclamation of dismay, "what shall we do? The ivory on which the picture is painted is cracked right across! Oh, what a queer expression it gives to the little girl's face, and what will Miss Nelson say?"
"Now, miss, you're not going to betray me about it, and me so bad and ill?"