“Ma’am,” cried the maid, suddenly, “I’ll venture to say I know who did it.”
“Who?” said everyone, eagerly. “Who?” said Bell, trembling.
“Why, miss, don’t you recollect that little girl with the lace, that we saw peeping about in the passage? I’m sure she must have done it; for here she was by herself half an hour or more, and not another creature has been in mistress’ dressing-room, to my certain knowledge, since morning. Those sort of people have so much curiosity. I’m sure she must have been meddling with it,” added the maid.
“Oh, yes, that’s the thing,” said the mistress, decidedly. “Well, Miss Rosamond, for your comfort she shall never come into my house again.”
“Oh, that would not comfort me at all,” said Rosamond; “besides, we are not sure that she did it, and if—” A single knock at the door was heard at this instant. It was the little girl, who came to be paid for her lace.
“Call her in,” said the lady of the house; “let us see her directly.”
The maid, who was afraid that the girl’s innocence would appear if she were produced, hesitated; but upon her mistress repeating her commands, she was forced to obey. The girl came in with a look of simplicity; but when she saw a room full of company she was a little abashed. Rosamond and Laura looked at her and one another with surprise, for it was the same little girl whom they had seen weaving lace.
“Is not it she?” whispered Rosamond to her sister.
“Yes, it is; but hush,” said Laura, “she does not know us. Don’t say a word, let us hear what she will say.”
Laura got behind the rest of the company as she spoke, so that the little girl could not see her.