leep. But at any moment
one of them might wake. And it was almost time for Louise to come,
bringing water and towels. Anne sprang out of bed, and with hurrying,
trembling fingers tied the trinkets in the corner of a handkerchief and
thrust them in the bottom of her box.

Her thoughts wandered many times during the long routine of the long
day--recitations, practice, exercise, study periods. Suppose Louise
should open the box to put away clothes or to set its contents in order,
find the packet, and report her to Mademoiselle. The rules required that
all jewelry be given in charge to one of the teachers. How would
she--how could she--explain having these things? In the afternoon
play-time, Anne ran to the dormitory, took out her workbox, and began
with hurried, awkward stitches to sew a handkerchief into a bag to
contain the jewels. How the thread snarled and knotted! How slowly the
work progressed!

And then all at once, "Anne!" said a surprised voice.

Anne gave a great start and tried to hide her work.

"Anne, it is forbidden to come to the dormitory at this hour." It was
Mademoiselle Duroc that spoke. "Report for a demerit this evening. But
what is it that you do there?"

Anne was silent.

"Anne Lewis! Answer!"

"I was just making a little bag," she murmured.

"For what purpose?" asked the awful voice.

Anne faltered. "To--to put some things in."

"What things?"

Anne clasped her hands imploringly. "I cannot tell you, Mamzelle. I
cannot. I cannot."

"You cannot tell?" repeated Mademoiselle Duroc. "I like not the
mysteries. But I like the less to see you excite yourself into
hysterics. Go downstairs and do not permit yourself to be found here
again at this hour."

Anne dropped the unfinished bag into her box and went slowly downstairs.
Mademoiselle Duroc followed her into the hall, stood there an undecided
moment, then returned to the dormitory and paused beside Anne's box. She
raised the lid, then dropped it, shaking her head.

"It is the most likely some child's nonsense about a string of buttons
or such a matter. It suits not with the sense of dignity for me to
search her box like a dishonest servant maid's," she said and returned
to her room.

That night Anne tossed restlessly about until the other girls were
asleep, then rose with sudden resolve to finish the bag by the moonlight
which poured through the muslin curtains. She laid the trinkets on the
pillow beside Honey-Sweet and stitched away