7. the Diamond Mines Again

        ered ternoon, s of procession. Miss Minc silk dress, led    folloaining t Doll, a    up to enter in t Miss Minc for er an intervieting room, had expressed her wishes.

        "t an ordinary occasion," s;I do not desire t it sreated as one."

        So Sara    sry, tared at ouctle ones began to squirm joyously in ts.

        "Silence, young ladies!" said Miss Minc t;James, place table and remove t yours upon a c; suddenly and severely.

        Becky e fotte, and    Lottie, ation. S dropped artled ened, bobbing curtsy of apology    Lavinia and Jessie tittered.

        "It is not your place to look at t; said Miss Minc;You fet yourself. Put your box do;

        Becky obeyed e and ily backed tohe door.

        "You may leave us," Miss Minco ts h a wave of her hand.

        Becky stepped aside respectfully to allos to pass out first. S ing a longing gla table. Sometin issue paper.

        "If you please, Miss Minc; said Sara, suddenly, "maynt Becky stay?"

        It o do. Miss Mincrayed into somet jump. t    urbedly.

        "Becky!" s;My dearest Sara!"

        Sara advanced a step toward her.

        "I    o see ts," s;Stle girl, too, you kno;

        Miss Minco ther.

        "My dear Sara," s;Becky is t little girls."

        It really    occurred to o t ligtles and made fires.

        "But Becky is," said Sara. "And I kno is my birt;

        Miss Mincy:

        "As you ask it as a birtay. Rebecca, t kindness."

        Becky o ting ted suspense. Ssies, but between Saras eyes and anding, wumbled over eacher.

        "O grateful, miss! I did    to see t I did. t;--turning and making an alarmed bob to Miss Minc;for lettiake ty."

        Miss Mi ion of the door.

        "Go and stand t; s;Not too ;

        Becky    to    care    s ead of being doairs in ts were going on. S even mind w ominously and spoke again.

        "Noo you," she announced.

        "So make a speec; ;

        Sara felt ratable. As ty, it    t    is not agreeable to stand in a sc you.

        "You are a; t    dear Sara is eleven years old today."

        "Dear Sara!" murmured Lavinia.

        "Several of you    Saras birt from ottle girls birto a large fortune, o spend in a meritorious manner."

        "t; giggled Jessie, in a whisper.

        Sara did not    as sood eadily on Miss Minc . alked about money, s some sed    ful to e grown-up people.

        "ai;o me, in a jesting    my seminary, Captain e. Sara    aplis to to call . y ss by giving you ternoons party. I e y. I ion of it by saying aloud all toget;

        tire sco its feet as it he m Sara remembered so well.

        "t; it said, and it must be fessed t Lottie jumped up and do. Ssy--and it was a very nie.

        "t; s;for ing to my party."

        "Very pretty, indeed, Sara," approved Miss Minc;t is ;t made remely like a snort. If you are jealous of your felloo enjoy yourselves."

        tant s out of t y. ttle girls jumped or tumbled out of ted no time iing to over one of ted face.

        "t; she said.

        ttle co a rueful murmur, and Ermengarde looked ag.

        "Does your papa send you books for a birt?" s; open t;

        "I like t; Sara laug suro t box. ook out t Doll it    t ttered deligually dreo gaze at it iure.

        "S as big as Lottie," someone gasped.

        Lottie clapped , giggling.

        "Ser," said Lavinia. ";

        "O; cried Ermengarde, darting for;s;

        "runk," said Sara. "Let us open it and look at ;

        S doured tray after tray and revealed tents. Never ogs and aining a necklad a tiara ing dresses; ts and tea go t too elderly to care for dolls, and uttered exclamations of delig up to look at them.

        "Suppose," Sara said, as sood by table, putting a large, black-velvet    on t;suppose sands alk and feels proud of being admired."

        "You are al; said Lavinia, and her air was very superior.

        "I kno; ansurbedly. "I like it. ts almost like being a fairy. If you suppose anyt seems as if it ;

        "Its all very o suppose t; said Lavinia. "Could you suppose and pretend if you ?"

        Sara stopped arranging t Dolls ostricful.

        "I believe I could," s;If one end all time. But it mig be easy."

        Sen t after    just as s at t very moment--Miss Amelia came into the room.

        "Sara," s;your papas solir. Barroalk to s are laid in ter e and    no my sister    erview ;

        Refress    likely to be disdai any o de, and t , s a Doll sitting upon a ctered about s ticoats lying upon ts.

        Becky, ed to partake of refress, ion to linger a moment to look at ties--it really ion.

        "Go back to your ; Miss Amelia    sopped to pick up reverently first a muff and t, and    tten error at t of being accused of taking liberties, sed uable, ablecloth.

        Miss Minco tured, dry little gentleman,    must be admitted, and s ttle gentleman ated and puzzled expression.

        S doiff dignity, and waved o a chair.

        "Pray, be seated, Mr. Barro; she said.

        Mr. Barro sit do oention seemed attracted by t Doll and ttled    t Doll    seem to mind t. S uprigurned ly.

        "A ; Mr. Barroly. "All expeerial, and made at a Parisian modistes.    money lavis young man."

        Miss Minc offeo be a disparagement of    patron and y.

        Even solicitors    to take liberties.

        "I beg your pardon, Mr. Barro; siffly. "I do not uand."

        "Birts," said Mr. Barroical manner, "to a cravagance, I call it."

        Miss Mincill midly.

        "Captain e," s;t;

        Mr. Barro; . "t;

        Miss Mincually got up from her chair.

        "!" s; do you mean?"

        "At any rate," anse snappis;it er if t;

        "Any diamond mines?" ejaculated Miss Mincc the back of a chair and feeling as if a splendid dream was fading away from her.

        "Diamond mines spell ruin ofte; said Mr. Barro; a businessmaeer clear of t o put into. te Captain Cre;

        opped h a gasp.

        "te Captain Cre; s. "te! You dont e to tell me t Captain Cre;

        "; Mr. Barro;Died of jungle fever and busiroubles bi not    been driven mad by troubles, and troubles mig    ao    assisted. Captain Cre;

        Miss Minco h alarm.

        " ; s; ;

        "Diamond mines," ans;and dear friends--and ruin."

        Miss Minc h.

        "Ruin!" s.

        "Lost every penny. t young man oo muc of t all o it, and all Captain Creain Creri oo muc tle girl--and didnt leave a penny."

        No a Seminary at one blo Captain Creo blame.

        "Do you mean to tell me," s, "t    not Sara    t s on my tle pauper instead of an ;

        Mr. Barro as o make y quite clear    any delay.

        "Sainly left a beggar," ;And sainly left on your    a relation in t ;

        Miss Mincarted for of to stop tivities going on joyfully and rat moment over ts.

        "It is monstrous!" s;Sting room at t, dressed in silk gauze and lace petticoats, giving a party at my expense."

        "S at your expense, madam, if s," said Mr. Barro;Barro responsible for anytune. Captain Cre paying our last bill--and it ;

        Miss Mined back from tion. ts being.

        "t is ; s;I    I    to all sorts of ridiculous expenses for t ridiculous doll and astic o ed. S c;

        Mr. Barroly did not io remain to listen to tory of Miss Mincer ion of ed ts.    feel any particular sympate keepers of b schools.

        "You ter not pay for anyt; ;unless you    to make presents to t a brass farto call ;

        "But o do?" demanded Miss Minc it entirely y to make tter rig; am I to do?"

        "t anyto do," said Mr. Barro;Captain Cre a pauper. Nobody is responsible for    you."

        "I am not responsible for o be made responsible!"

        Miss Mince h rage.

        Mr. Barrouro go.

        "I o do , madam," erestedly. "Barro responsible. Very sorry t;

        "If you to be foisted off on me, yreatly mistaken," Miss Minc;I ed; I urn o treet!"

        If s been so furious, soo discreet to say quite so mucravagantly brouged, and s all self-trol.

        Mr. Barrourbedly moved tohe door.

        "I    do t, madam," ed; "it    look    story to get about in e ablis. Pupil bundled out penniless and    friends."

        Miss Minco see trut afford to do a ted.

        "Better keep ; ;S a good deal out of ;

        "I    a good deal out of ; exclaimed Miss Min.

        "I am sure you ; said Mr. Barrotle sinister smile. "I am sure you ;

        and closed t must be fessed t Miss Mincood for a fes and glared at it.    e true. S. Sely no redress. ed into nottle girl. Sud could not be regained.

        And as sood t of gay voices from ually been given up to t. S least stop this.

        But as sarted to ened by Miss Amelia, w sigep in alarm.

        " is tter, sister?" sed.

        Miss Minc fierce when she answered:

        ";

        Miss Amelia was bewildered.

        "Sara!" sammered. ";

        "uous ;--in bitter irony.

        "A black frock?" Miss Amelia stammered again. "A blae?"

        "S;

        Miss Amelia began to turn pale.

        "No--ye-es!" s;But it is too s for , and sgro."

        "Go and tell o take off t preposterous pink silk gauze, and put t is too s or not. S;

        t    hands and cry.

        "Oer!" s;Oer!     ;

        Miss Mino words.

        "Captain Cre; s; a penny. t spoiled, pampered, fanciful c a pauper on my ;

        Miss Amelia sat doe    chair.

        " on nonsense for . Put a stop to ty of    once."

        "I?" panted Miss Amelia. "M-must I go and tell ;

        "t!" ;Dont sit staring like a goose. Go!"

        Poor Miss Amelia omed to being called a goose. S, t s it    to geese to do a great many disagreeable t o go into t of a room full of deligell t t sransformed into a little beggar, and must go upstairs and put on an old black frock    be doly not time    be asked.

        Sil te red. After    out of t venturing to say anoter looked and spoke as s no course to pursue o obey orders    any ent. Miss Minco    kno s. During t year tory of ted all sorts of possibilities to ors of seminaries migunes in stocks, ead of looking fains, s to look back upon losses.

        "t; s;t; S table as s, and t moment sarted at the cover.

        " is t!" sooped and raised table cover.

        "; s. " immediately!"

        It oor Becky w, and h repressed g.

        "If you please, m--its me, mum," s;I kno I    tened ;

        "You ime, listening," said Miss Min.

        "No, mum," Becky protested, bobbing curtsies. "Not listenin--I t I could slip out    your noti, but I couldnt an I o stay. But I didnt listen, mum--I    for not I couldnt ;

        Suddenly it seemed almost as if s all fear of t into fresears.

        "O; s;I dare say youll give me    Im so sorry for poor Miss Sara--Im so sorry!"

        "Leave t; ordered Miss Min.

        Becky curtsied again, tears openly streaming down her cheeks.

        "Yes, m; I ; srembling; "but o ed to arst you: Miss Sara--sed on, and and foot; an    on er Ive done my pots ales? Id do em t quick--if youd let me    on ; breaking out afres;poor little Miss Sara, mum--t ;

        Some t soo mucually stamped .

        "No--certainly not," s;S on oo. Leave tant, or youll leave your place."

        Becky t of teps into t dotles, and    as if    would break.

        "Its exactly like tories," s;t o t;

        Miss Mince so still and o er, in respoo a message s her.

        Even by t time it seemed to Sara as if ty e anottle girl.

        Every sign of tivities    a bato tting room looked as it alraces of t y frocks; and turo togetalkiedly.

        "tell Sara to e to my room," Miss Minco er. "And explain to    I ;

        "Sister," replied Miss Amelia, &quest cually made no fuss at all. You remember sain Cre back to India. old     stood quite still and looked at me    making a sound. o get bigger and bigger, and s quite pale. ill stood staring for a feo surned round and ran out of tairs. Several of to cry, but s seem to o be alive to anyt just    made me feel quite queer not to be ansrange, you expect people ever it is."

        Nobody but Sara    er sairs and locked , s t so    seem ;My papa is dead! My papa is dead!"

        Once sopped before Emily, c ;Emily! Do you ;

        o Miss Ming room in anso e and    as if s o reveal    like tterfly    one of reasures to ted scead a strange, desolate, almost grotesque little figure.

        S on,    Mariettes -aside black- velvet frock. It oo s and tig. As s found a piece of black ribbon, , tumbled loosely about rasted strongly s pallor. Sigerial.

        "Put do; said Miss Minc; do you mean by bringing ;

        "No," Sara ans;I    put o me."

        Sly unfortable, and s speak eadiness    it difficult to cope--perless and inhing.

        "You ure," s;You ;

        Sara kept range eyes fixed on    a word.

        "Everyt no; Miss Min. "I suppose Miss Amelia ters to you."

        "Yes," ans;My papa is dead.    me no money. I am quite poor."

        "You are a beggar," said Miss Mincemper rising at tion of . "It appears t you ions and no o take care of you."

        For a moment ttle face tc Sara again said nothing.

        " are you staring at?" demanded Miss Minc;Are you so stupid t you ot uand? I tell you t you are quite alone in to do anyto keep you    of cy."

        "I uand," ansone; and t. "I uand."

        "t doll," cried Miss Ming to t seated near--"t ridiculous doll, ravagant tually paid t;

        Sara turned ohe chair.

        "t Doll," s;t Doll." And tle mournful voice had an odd sound.

        "t Doll, indeed!" said Miss Mind s yours. Everyt;

        "Please take it a; said Sara. "I do not    it."

        If sened, Miss Minc almost ienineer and feel    Saras pale little steadfast fad tle voice, se felt as if     at naught.

        "Dont put on grand airs," s;time for t sort of t. You are not a princess any longer. Your carriage and your pony    a and plai clant ones are no longer suited to your station. You are like Becky--you must ;

        to    gleam of ligo the childs eyes--a shade of relief.

        " I ; s;If I        matter so mu I do?"

        "You    do anytold," ;You are a s you stay ;

        "May I?" exclaimed Sara. "O me! I knoeac;

        "Dont talk nonsense about people liking you," said Miss Minc;You eactle ones. You    a. No;

        Sara stood still just a moment, looking at rauro leave the room.

        "Stop!" said Miss Mint you io t;

        Sara paused, and all tras surged up in .

        " for?" she said.

        "For my kio you," replied Miss Miny kindness in giving you a ;

        Sara made teps tole ge un-childishly fierce way.

        "You are not kind," s;You are not kind, and it is not a ; And surned and run out of top    stare after ony anger.

        S up tairs slo panting for breatig her side.

        "I ; so ;If s;

        S to go to iger-skin,    cats o t just before s of t beood before it, looking nervous and arut s secretly aso do.

        "You--you are not to go in t; she said.

        "Not go in?" exclaimed Sara, and she fell back a pace.

        "t is not your room no; Miss Amelia anstle.

        Some once, Sara uood. S the ge Miss Min had spoken of.

        "; s    shake.

        "You are to sleep in ttiext to Becky."

        Sara kne. Surned, and mounted up t one rips of old carpet. S as if s ot, tigairs to ttic, e a different creature.

        tic door and ope,    gave a dreary little t tood against it and looked about her.

        Yes, ting roof and e, an old iroead, and a . Some pieces of furniture too muco be used doairs    up. U in t an oblong piece of dull gray sky, tood an old battered red footstool. Sara    to it and sat dotle blag on t saying one    making one sound.

        And as s in tap at t s at first , and, indeed,    roused until timidly pusear-smeared face appeared peeping round it. It was Beckys face, and Becky ively for cil srange indeed.

        "O; s;Mig to e in?"

        Sara lifted    ried to begin a smile, and some. Suddenly--and it reaming eyes-- so mucoo old for    tle sob.

        "O; s;I told you    ttle girls--just ttle girls. You see rue it is. t a princess anymore."

        Becky ran to     to , kneeling beside h love and pain.

        "Yes, miss, you are," s;sever appens to you-- make you not."
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