The Argosy — page 377: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Missing Rubtes. 359 a woman who could not live without a victim. But even with Jane she did not venture to go too far, because Miss Earle would some- times come unexpectedly to the aid of her gentle sister. Sunday came round, and nothing had been said about the terrible event of the morrow. All through church-time the two Miss Earles worried themselves with the fear that Miss Lindrick would say some- thing to Caroline. But Alma, sitting alone in her pew, was entirely occupied with her own thoughts. Her father had stayed at home with Mr. Redbum, so that there was nothing to be dreaded from him, She did not join the Earles’ party as they were leaving the church, and they went home congratulating themselves on an escape. ‘She must be told to-day,” said Dorothy, walking nervously into Jane’s room, with her bonnet still upon her head. ‘‘ They will all be here at eleven to-morrow; only think of it! I expect Charles will be here earlier. He will want to have a few words with us first.” “ He is sure to come earlier. When Charles really is roused to exert himself, he does a great deal. Do you know, Dorothy, I think he is the right person to tell Caroline what is going to happen.” ‘“‘ Oh,” said Miss Earle, much impressed. “Yes,” continued Jane, quite proud of her idea. ‘ The letters went to him. Caroline was the loser of the necklace; it is clear, therefore, that he, as the head of the family, ought to speak to Caroline on such a serious matter. I wonder that we did not think of this sooner. It would have spared us a great deal of perplexity.” Miss Earle stood quite still, smoothing her dove-coloured satin bonnet-strings. A half-hoop of large diamonds, always coveted by the Countess, glittered on her delicate old hand. ‘“‘ Well, all things considered, I think you are right,” she rejoined slowly. ‘ We will decide to leave it all to Charles.” Then these two cowardly old gentlewomen went downstairs to luncheon, and vied with each other in paying delicate attentions to ‘poor Caroline.” Their consciences smote them pretty frequently for keeping silence when they ought to have spoken. And that was the reason why the Countess found them so attentive and kind. There was another thought in both minds, which they did not utter even to each other. If the necklace was restored, uninjured, whole, without a single ruby missing, would not Caroline restore the money which had compensated her for its loss ? Monday morning came, and Dorothy blundered through the prayers in a way that made Jane turn cold. Caroline appeared just after they had all risen from their knees. They sat down to break- fast, and Miss Earle plunged wildly into the business of filling the cups, It was a funny repast, to which they all looked back afterwards as if they had partaken of it in a dream. When they had all got up from the table, Caroline passed through an open window to the terrace. In another moment she swept into the room again with a surprised face. = comicbooks.com