"Your necklace gone, Rosy," she repeated. Nelson said nothing.
"Yes, gone, I tell you," said Rosy. "And I believe it's stolen. It couldn't go of itself, and I never left it about. I haven't had it on for a good while. You know that time I slept in your room, Bee, while Fixie was ill, I got out of the way of wearing it. But I always knew where it was, in its own little box in the far-back corner of the drawer where I keep my best ribbons and jewelry."
"Yes," said Bee, "I know. It was there the day I had it out to amuse Fixie."
Rosy turned sharply upon her.
"Did you put it back that day, Bee?" she said, "I don't believe I've looked at it since. Answer, did you put it back?"
"Yes," said Bee earnestly, "yes, indeed; indeed I did. O Rosy, don't get like that," she entreated, clasping her hands, for Rosy's face was growing redder and redder, and her eyes were flashing. "O Rosy, don't get into a temper with me about it. I did, did put it back."
But it is doubtful if Rosy would have listened to her. She was fast working herself up to believe that Bee had lost the necklace the day she had had it out for Pixie, and she was so distressed at the loss that she was quite ready to get into a temper with somebody—when, to both the children's surprise, Nelson's voice interrupted what Rosy was going to say.
"Miss Warwick," she said, with rather a mocking tone—she had made a point of calling Bee "Miss Warwick" since the day Mrs. Vincent had spoken of the little girl by that name—"Miss Warwick did put it back that day, Miss Rosy dear," she said. "For I saw it late that evening when I was putting your things away to help Martha as Master Fixie was ill." She did not explain that she had made a point of looking for the necklace in hopes of finding Bee had not put it back, for you may remember she had been cross and rude to Bee about finding her in Rosy's room.
"Well, then, where has it gone? Come with me, Bee, and look for it," said Rosy, rather softening down,—"though I'm sure I've looked everywhere."
"I don't think it's any use your taking Miss Warwick to look for it," said Nelson, getting up and laying aside her work. "I'll go with you, Miss Rosy, and if it's in your room I'll undertake to find it. And just you stay quietly here, Miss Bee. Too many cooks spoil the broth."