"Certainly, Margery. You have been a dear, good girl ever since you came to me, and you shall not have your character taken away in my house, if I can help it."
The grateful tears rushed into Margie's eyes, and she kissed the kind old hand that was outstretched to her.
"If, ma'am, you will be so good as to lock up this ring in your own jewel-case, and not say one word to any one, I shall be much obliged," said Margie, as soon as she could command her voice; "then it will soon be seen what Miss Mabel intended. If she says, to-morrow or the next day, that she has lost her ring, and accuses me of stealing it, and insists upon a search being made, and in the search includes my little writing-desk, that will be unmistakable proof, will it not?"
"Alas, yes, Margery, it will!" sighed the old lady. "God grant it may not come to that!"
Then Margie gave Mrs. Beach her jewel-case and her keys, and the ring was put away safely; after which the girl thanked her mistress, said good-night, and went back to Clara's room.
[CHAPTER V.]
THE ACCUSATION.
THERE was a strange light of malignant triumph in Mabel's dark eyes the next morning, and Nicholas, looking at her as she sat opposite him at breakfast, noticed the expression of her face, though he would not pay her the compliment of mentioning that he saw anything unusual.
"What do you think, Nick?" said she presently. "I've lost my best diamond ring."
"You must have been awfully careless," he replied unsympathetically.