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Updated: May 27, 2025
A little later she handed a slip of blue paper to Mr. Bobbsey. "What is this?" he asked. "A check for one hundred dollars," answered Miss Pompret. "It is the reward I promised for the finding of my china. I have made the check out to you, Mr. Bobbsey. You can get the money and give half to Nan and half to Bert." Mr. Bobbsey slowly shook his head. Then he handed the blue check back to Miss Pompret.
She went over to the closet, unlocked the glass doors, and set some of the rare pieces out on the lace cover of the dining room table. Bert and Nan saw that Miss Pompret handled each piece as though it might be crushed, even in her delicate hands, which were almost as white and thin as a piece of china. "This is the wonderful Pompret tableware," went on the old lady.
They all wondered how the second-hand man had come by them, but they never found out. Miss Pompret carefully placed the sugar bowl and pitcher in the glass- doored closet with her other pieces. She looked at them for several seconds. They matched perfectly. "Now, once more, after many years, my precious set of china is together again," she murmured. She went over to a desk and began to write.
"Ah, that's the mystery I am going to tell you about," said Miss Pompret. "It isn't a very big story, and I won't keep you long. It isn't often I get a chance to tell it, so you must forgive an old lady for keeping you from your play," and again she smiled, in rather a sad fashion, at Nan and Bert. "Oh, we like it here!" exclaimed Nan quickly. "It's lots of fun!" added Bert.
One was marked for Nan and the other for Bert, and each bore the words: "From Miss Alicia Pompret, to the little friends who restored my missing china." "Oh, mine's a fur coat!" cried Nan, as she opened her package. "A fur coat and story books!" "And mine's shoe-hockeys the best ever!" shouted Bert. "And an air rifle and books too!"
"Oh, no'm she wouldn't mind at all!" said Bert quickly. "We like chocolate cake," said Nan, "but we didn't go to the post-office for that!" "Bless your heart, child, I know you didn't!" laughed their new friend. "Please come in!" The chocolate cake was all Bert and Nan hoped it would be, and besides that Miss Pompret set out on the table for them each a glass of milk.
"Well, Miss Pompret is a very nice lady," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I am very glad that the children got those missing dishes back for her." "So am I. She has been greatly worried for years over them." Slowly the snow flakes drifted down, another storm following the first. It was the night before Christmas. "I wonder what we'll get?" murmured Nan as she and Bert went up to their rooms.
"It has been in my family over a hundred years. My great-grandfather had it, and now it has come to me. I have had it a number of years, and I think more of it than anything else I have. Of course, if I had any little children I would care for them more than for these dishes," went on Miss Pompret.
Sometimes I dream that I shall, and I am disappointed when I awaken. But now I mustn't keep you children any longer. I've told you my little mystery story, and I hope you liked it." "Yes, we did, very much," answered Nan "Only it's too bad!" "You aren't sure the tramp took the dishes, are you?" asked Bert. "No; and that is where the mystery comes in," said Miss Pompret.
She felt sure, now, that the two pieces of china were the very ones Miss Pompret wanted. If they could only get that sugar bowl and pitcher! "I wish you had a sailboat!" murmured Billy, as if that was all he cared about. Then, turning to Nan he asked: "Would you like that sugar bowl and pitcher?" "Oh, yes, I think I would!" she exclaimed, trying not to make her voice seem too eager.
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