"I will never do it again—only let me stay, ma'amselle!"
"No, you shall not stay. I discharge you, and without a character," replied Jewel, angrily.
"Oh, mademoiselle, you are cruel. Grant me but a private interview, and I will convince you that I am not to blame," pleaded Marie, humbly; but her eloquence would have had no effect on Jewel but for an expression that appeared in the girl's eyes and startled her into yielding, it was so full of bold meaning and deadly menace.
The glance made Jewel quake, she could not tell why, only that her consciousness of a dark and guilty secret made her nervous and fearful. She hesitated a moment, and the girl, turning her back completely on Laurie, made large eyes of such impudent menace at her that she was compelled to acquiesce.
She looked at her betrothed, and said, sweetly:
"Perhaps I had better hear her defense, Laurie. I do not wish to be too hard on a poor, friendless girl."
"That is very magnanimous of you, Jewel," he replied, admiringly. "Do as you please, only let our young friend here understand that at another such offense she must go."
"Monsieur, I will never do so again!" whimpered Marie again; and she dropped into a mocking courtesy, and followed her mistress up the stairs.
Jewel was trembling with indefinable fear, but she turned boldly on the delinquent maid.
"Now, Marie, if there is anything you can plead in your own defense, do so quickly," she said, sharply.