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Snowdon, Adam, as I'm a living woman, though I wouldn't say it to anyone but you. She and Sir Jasper were here wrapped in cloaks, and up to mischief, I'll be bound. She is a beauty, but I don't envy her, and there'll be trouble in the house if she stays long." "But how do you know, Mrs. Benson, she was here? Where's your proof, mum?" asked the pompous butler.
"Ar goo!" said the Fisher baby. "That's it," said the old gentleman with approval, while the others shouted. "So now, as long as your brother says so, Phronsie, why, I should have your Tree the day before Christmas." "Oh, Polly wants to go" began Jasper. "Ugh!" cried Polly warningly to him. "Yes, Phronsie; you much better have it the day before, as Grandpapa says."
"Why?" the girl asked. "Because of the money Mr. David has left you. You remember what Mrs. Wadell said, don't you?" "Oh, yes," and Betty fixed her eyes thoughtfully upon the ground. "I have been thinking about that. But do you think I should use that money on myself?" "Why, certainly; what else should you do with it?" "But Mr. Jasper will need it, will he not?" "In what way?"
Having lifted his friend into this region of aerial castles, Jasper then, descending into the practical world, wound up with the mournful fact that one could not get to St. Petersburg, nor when there into swell sets, without having some little capital on hand. "I tell you what we will do. Madame Caumartin lives in prime style.
"Come, that's a comfort that's a good reason for never havin' heard from her. Thankee, lad, for putting me up to it. And, now, as we must be up and away in another hour, I'll finish my nap." So saying, Jasper put out his pipe and once more drew his blanket over him.
"I'll divide with you, Polly," said Jasper. "I brought ever so many, and will go shares with my kodak, too." But Polly made up her mind that Jasper's kodak was to be used for his own special pictures, for she knew he had set his heart on taking certain ones, and a good many of them, too. "Isn't that water just perfectly lovely!" she exclaimed; "such a bluish grey."
The walls were covered to the ceiling with rows of goblets, vases, etc., of polished jasper, agate, and lapis lazuli. Splendid mosaic tables stood around with caskets of the most exquisite silver and gold work upon them, and vessels of solid silver, some of them weighing six hundred pounds, were placed at the foot of the columns.
"No, no," the baronet cried; "not so! Remain and breakfast here. The morning is but just breaking." "And before yonder sun is above the horizon I will be far away. No, Sir Jasper Kingsland, I break no bread under your roof. I have done my work, and depart forever. Look to your son!"
"But she is only ten years of age," said the husband, "and our contract is to keep her until she is twelve." "We cannot give her up," murmured Edith, tears already beginning to flow over her cheeks. "I never thought of this. What can it mean?" "Some sudden determination on the part of Jasper, and based on nothing good," was the reply.
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