Page:Neith Boyce--The bond.djvu/70

68 "What—not again!" said Teresa.

"Yes—you will think it my fault—I was showing it to someone else, and carelessly laid it down—and I meant to watch her every minute—but she slipped out. Of course I will—pay for it" "Annette Pease, you little idiot!" said Teresa, getting up and arranging her hair before a glass. "Pay for it, indeed! I know you're careful—don't worry about it. We put these things down to profit and loss."

"What is it? Miss Carruthers? Pearl pendant?" cried Mrs. Boulter.

"Yes, the Miss Carruthers—father's dear old friend, who takes such an interest in me! Didn't you know she was a kleptomaniac? She's run off with a seed-pearl and emerald thing, and I lose about eighty dollars. Never mind. Come along home with me, Aunt Sophy, come to dinner."

"Eighty dollars! But, surely, you can get it back."

"No, I can't, without—making trouble. She would just deny it. Poor old thing, she was actually arrested once for shoplifting, but they hushed it up. It's pure mania—she has money enough. I've heard of her taking the spoons off the table when she goes out to dine."

"Well, she ought to be locked up!" said Mrs. Boulter sternly. "Why don't her family attend