"It is a cruel blow to your pride and love, my daughter, and I only wish I knew how to comfort you."
Roma lifted her white face and glittering eyes to Mrs. Clarke's anxious scrutiny, and actually laughed—a strange, mirthless laugh, that chilled her mother's blood. Then she said, with seeming coolness:
"You can comfort me right off, mamma, by begging papa to give me those rubies I've wanted so long! As for Jesse, he is only holding off from pride! I shall win him back, never fear!"
"You shall have your rubies, dear," her mother answered kindly, though she thought: "What a strange girl? How can she think of rubies at such a moment?"
"Thank you, mamma, you are very good to me!" Roma answered prettily, in her gratitude for the rubies; then, as Mrs. Clarke was going out, she added: "I wonder if Sophie is well enough to get up and wait on me. I am in need of her services."
Mrs. Clarke paused in some embarrassment, and answered:
"I shall have to lend you my own maid till I can get you another. Sophie Nutter left quite abruptly this morning."
"I'm glad of it. I disliked the girl, and I suspected her of telling tales of me to you!" cried Roma.
Mrs. Clarke neither affirmed nor denied the charge. She simply said:
"We should be kind to our servants, Roma, if we expect them to bear good witness for us."