WHEN Nelly went to the store next morning, she had fully made up her mind as to her duty, and was resolved, by God's help, to do it, let it cost what it might. She remembered granny's words, "The blessing of God shines on the straight path." She had found it true heretofore, and she determined to be guided thereby.
It seemed for a while as if she were to have no occasion for putting her resolution in practice. Miss Bartlett did not make her appearance for some days; and when she did, though Nelly watched her closely, she could detect nothing wrong; nor did she miss any thing afterwards.
Nelly drew a long sigh of relief and thankfulness. "Oh, I do hope she will never do so again! I do hope she has thought better of it! It would be so dreadful if I should have to tell Mrs. Kirkland!"
But Nelly was not to get rid of her trouble so easily. It was only a few days before Miss Bartlett came again. A case of valuable fans was on the counter, none of which had yet been sold. Miss Bartlett asked for some coloured braid; and as Nelly turned to take it down from the shelf, she distinctly saw in one of the mirror-panels which decorated the store that Miss Bartlett took up a pearl-carved fan and slipped it into her muff. She turned back to the counter. One of the fans was certainly gone. Miss Bartlett glanced carelessly at the braid, pronounced it perfectly hideous, and then, taking up the muff, she turned and went up-stairs. The next moment Nelly had restored the fans to their place and was speaking to Mrs. Kirkland at the desk. Her face was very pale, and her voice trembled; but she did not hesitate.
"Mrs. Kirkland, that lady who has just gone up-stairs has taken one of those pearl fans. I saw her put it in her muff when my back was turned."
"How could you see her when your back was turned?" asked Mrs. Kirkland, laying down her work and looking sharply at Nelly, but without any of that surprise which Nelly had expected.
"I saw her in the glass," answered Nelly, without hesitation.
"Have you ever seen her take things before?"
"I can't say that I ever saw her," said Nelly; "but I have been sure for some time that she did take little things. She hardly ever comes here without my missing something after she is gone. But this time I saw her; and she has the fan now,—one of those twenty-dollar pearl fans that Miss Powell said nobody would buy because they were so small and so expensive."
"Miss Lennox," called Mrs. Kirkland, "come down-stairs at once, please. I want you."