"You abominable little wretch!" she sobbed. "I suppose you've
told everybody in the office."

"How could I, ma'am?"

"How could you?" She looked up, the tears on her flabby,
flushed cheek.

"I didn't know myself. I can't read writing--"

It was thin, but she wanted to believe it.

She could have taken me in her arms, she was so happy.

"There! there!" she patted my shoulder and gave me a dollar
bill. "I was a bit hasty, Nat. It's only a--a little business
matter that Mr. Moriway's attending to for me. We--we'll finish
it up this afternoon. I shouldn't like Miss Kingdon to know of
it, because--because I--never like to worry her about business,
you know. So don't mention it when she comes to-morrow."

"No'm. Shall I fasten your dress?" I simply had to stay in that
room till I could get rid of those diamonds.

With a faded old blush--the nicest thing about her I'd ever
seen--she turned her back.

"It's dark to-day, ma'am," I coaxed. "Would you mind coming
nearer the window?"