This was to answer “Happy New Year” to every question asked without laughing and they had been playing several minutes before Meg realized that Tim had not given her back her locket. She waited till the game was over and then asked him for it.
“I haven’t your locket,” said Tim. “I gave it back to you. Have you gone and lost it again?”
Meg was sure he had not given it back, but she looked about the room carefully. She could not find it. When they marched out to supper it was still missing and she was afraid to say anything to Bobby who did not like Tim Roon, she knew.
“He might hit him, or something,” reasoned Meg. “I know I didn’t lose my locket, but folks might think I did. I lost it once and they think I’m careless, I guess.”
She could not half enjoy the delicious goodies and when they went back to play more games after supper, Meg stole away by herself to have a little cry. She had hidden herself in one of the big leather chairs in the book-lined room across the hall which was Mr. Gordon’s library and she was sobbing quietly when suddenly a deep voice said, “Well, bless me, and who is this?”
A tall, gray-haired gentleman stood looking down at her. Meg knew he must be Mr. Gordon. When he found she couldn’t stop crying he sat down and took her on his lap and by and by Meg found she could tell him about the lost locket and Tim and Bobby.
“And I did lose it once,” she explained, “and perhaps I lost it this time, but I know I didn’t.”
“You stay here,” said Mr. Gordon shortly.
He went away and in a few minutes he came back and Tim Roon, looking very frightened and ashamed, was with him.
“Tim has something to give you, Meg,” said Mr. Gordon.