The monkey's impudence fairly upset Mary's temper at last, and she dealt the little creature a succession of slaps, rating her soundly meanwhile. At this moment Nurse made her appearance in the kitchen, and was in time to see Jenny spring upon cook's shoulders and commence tugging at the hair of her head. The woman's shrieks now rent the air, and Mrs. Snowden, with her four children, came rushing in to see what was the matter.
Jenny was in a regular monkey-rage. She tossed cook's cap on the ground, and then held aloft something which looked uncommonly like part of the unfortunate woman's scalp.
In a moment the truth flashed upon the onlookers: the mass of hair, which Jenny was examining most minutely, was Mary's false fringe.
Kenneth and Rupert were nearly doubled up with laughter. Not so Marcia, who could see that cook was really very much upset.
Springing forward, the child called her pet by name. Jenny immediately dropped her ill-gotten treasure, and sprung down towards Marcia, evidently expecting to be rewarded by some dainty. Snatching up a piece of sugar which was on the tea-tray close at hand, she gave it into Jenny's funny little brown paw, and, by dint of management, the monkey, which was very young and very small, was soon recaptured.
From that moment Mary hated the little creature with a hatred too deep for words.
About a week later Marcia discovered her pet lying prone on the floor of the kennel, looking almost as if she were dying.
It so happened that day, that Mrs. Snowden and the three elder children had gone for a drive, to visit some friends who lived at a distance. Nurse also was absent on a day's holiday, so Marcia was feeling rather desolate. The sight of Jenny, who looked on the verge of a collapse, completed her woes and she burst into tears.
"Oh, Mary," she cried, "do come and look at Jenny. I believe she's going to die."
The woman, who was busy with her work, did not even trouble to turn her head. Under her breath she muttered—