'They can't be there,' said nurse; 'Miss Anne has far too kind a heart not to come out, even if they had begun by playing a trick on me. Come up to the nursery, my dears, and have your tea. I'll go down and speak to Mr. Barstow. Maybe he can throw some light on it.'
'They must have gone out, nurse,' I said boldly. There was no use not telling her all we knew.
She turned upon me quite sharply.
'Gone out, Master Jack? Nonsense, Miss Anne is far too good and obedient to do such a wild thing, knowing how it would displease your dear mamma too.'
But Maud, whom we met on the staircase, suddenly thought of an explanation of the mystery.
'Come in here,' she said, pulling us all three into the nursery and closing the door. 'Listen, I do believe I know where they've gone. It's about the diamond brooch. I believe Anne's gone to those children's house where they've found a brooch that might be it.'
Hebe and I jumped.
'I believe you're right, Maud,' I said.
'How stupid of us not to have thought of it!' exclaimed Hebe.
But nurse, of course, only stared.