f disdain, but they never left her long to herself or
missed an opportunity to make the most of her irrepressible chatter.

Her satisfaction at entering this charmed circle did not take from her
piquancy, and story after story fell from her lips, as she fluttered
about, now here now there, in her endless preparations for retirement.
She had taken off her historic pendant after it had been duly admired
and handled by all present, and, with the careless confidence of an
assured ownership, thrown it down upon the end of her dresser, which, by
the way, projected very close to the open window.

"Are you going to leave your jewel there?" whispered a voice in her ear
as a burst of laughter rang out in response to one of her sallies.

Turning, with a simulation of round-eyed wonder, she met Miss Hughson's
earnest gaze with the careless rejoinder, "What's the harm?" and went
on with her story with all the reckless ease of a perfectly thoughtless
nature.

Miss Hughson abandoned her protest. How could she explain her reasons
for it to one apparently uninitiated in the scandal associated with
their especial clique.

Yes, she left the jewel there; but she locked her door and quickly, so
that they must all have heard her before reaching their rooms. Then she
crossed to the window, which, like all on this side, opened on a balcony
running the length of the house. She was aware of this balcony, also of
the fact that only young ladies slept in the corridor communicating with
it. But she was not quite sure that this one corridor accommodated
them all. If one of them should room elsewhere! (Miss Driscoll, for
instance). But no! the anxiety displayed for the safety of her jewel
precluded that supposition. Their hostess, if none of the others, was
within access of this room and its open window. But how about the rest?
Perhaps the lights would tell. Eagerly the little schemer looked forth,
and let her glances travel down the full length of the balcony. Two
separate beams of light shot across it as she looked, and presently
another, and, after some waiting, a fourth. But the fifth failed to
appear. This troubled her, but not seriously. Two of the girls might be
sleeping in one bed.

Drawing her shade, she finished her preparations for the night; then
with her kimono on, lifted the pendant and thrust it into a small box
she had taken from her trunk. A curious smile, very unlike any she had
shown to man or woman that day, gave a sarcastic