joy rose on the following morning with the exhilarating sensation that something very pleasant had happened. sir jasper's disbelief in her integrity had been the one cloud on the horizon of her happiness during the past few weeks; and now that he had laid his suspicion of her aside, she felt that she could easily forgive celia for having allowed her to remain in a false position so long, and could welcome her home with a light heart. it would have been unnatural if joy had entertained no resentment against her sister, for she was fully conscious of the selfishness and cowardice of her conduct, but she tried to make allowances for her, and was very grieved because she and celia had been drifting apart. formerly she had been inclined to set celia on a pedestal; but though her idol had fallen, she did not love her sister any the less on that account.
"i will meet her as though nothing had ever come between us," joy thought. "poor celia! i am sure she was grieved when uncle jasper treated me so unjustly; but she did not like to speak out and tell the truth. there, i won't think anything more about it! i'll tell her we'll let bygones be bygones and we'll be better friends than ever."
joy knelt down to pray with a very happy heart; and when she had poured out all her deep thankfulness to god, she joined her mother and brother at the breakfast-table.
"you look as bright as a may morning, joy," mrs. wallis told her. "i suppose that is with the thought of celia's return?"
"yes, partly that," joy responded, smilingly, "and partly something else. mother! eric! do you know, i've made uncle jasper believe at last that i really am truthful, that i am not the storyteller he thought!"
"bravo!" cried eric, heartily. "so uncle jasper's come to his senses, has he?"
"my dear boy—" commenced mrs. wallis, remonstratingly; but eric broke in:
"oh, mother, you know he was very unjust to poor joy! i should have liked him from the first but for that. i feel i really do like him now, for he's been wonderfully generous to us all. has he discovered the real owner of the novel which wag destroyed, then, joy?"
joy shook her head; and her brother suddenly became very thoughtful.
"i told you everything would come right, my dear," mrs. wallis said, affectionately; "i knew it was impossible for anyone to live long under the same roof with my joy and not find out her true character. celia will be very relieved at the turn matters have taken."
"yes," agreed joy, avoiding her mother's eyes, "i think—i am sure she will."
the girl was blissfully happy. she practised the piano nearly all the morning, stimulated by sir jasper's assurance that her talent should be cultivated. that meant that he intended to give her a musical education, she knew. bright dreams of the future occupied her mind. she would work hard, and get on as well as ever she could, and sir jasper would see how deeply she appreciated his kindness, and how truly grateful she was.
in the afternoon lawrence puttenham appeared at the moat house, and joy and eric accompanied him in a long ramble through the shady lanes where the nuts on the hazel bushes were beginning to harden, and turn brown, for august was nearly out, and autumn's ripening touch was plainly discernible everywhere. then lawrence puttenham took his friend back to the vicarage to tea with him; and joy, on her return to the moat house, sought her mother in the sitting-room in the east wing.
mrs. wallis, who was employed on some needlework, glanced up with a smile as joy entered, and exclaimed, involuntarily:
"how well you look, my dear! why, you're quite rosy! not much like the pale little maiden of six months ago."
"and how well you look, mother!" joy cried, in return, her eyes resting with admiring affection on mrs. wallis's countenance. "i declare you appear years younger than when we came here! yes, indeed it's true! mrs. mallock said so to me only a few days ago."
"did she?" mrs. wallis looked pleased. "ah, it's the rest from care and worry that's making the difference in my appearance," she continued; "our lines have fallen in pleasant places, my dear. i've been talking uncle jasper, and he tells me it is his desire we should remain with him altogether; he says we are his nearest relations, and therefore he will undertake to provide for our futures. oh, joy, the relief to my mind know that!" overcome with mingled emotions, mrs. wallis burst into tears. joy was startled, for she had never seen her mother weep since her father had died, even when she had been sore pressed and troubled. she kissed her tenderly, whilst she thought of the full meaning of her words, and that celia would in all probability have her wish, and return to a— again.
"then we shan't be poor any more," joy said at length, very soberly. "oh, mother, i am glad! but i was very happy at a—, though celia was not."
"ah, celia!" a grieved expression crossed the mother's face for a moment. "she has not found the secret of happiness—poor celia! she cannot understand that one may have great wealth, and yet be very, very poor."
"i think i know what you mean, mother," joy replied thoughtfully, "in fact, i'm sure i do." then she quoted softly: "when thou hast christ thou art rich, and hast enough."
"true, little daughter. that is what i have endeavoured to teach all three of my children; but i fear i have failed to impress it upon celia. now, you and i are going to have an early cup of tea together, for uncle jasper is in the library, and does not wish to be disturbed."
it was about half-past five o'clock when joy came downstairs in readiness for their drive. she was waiting for her mother in the hall when the library door opened, and sir jasper's voice—strangely harsh it sounded—bade her come to him, for he wanted her. the old man stood in the doorway, leaning heavily on his stick, and as joy approached him, she was struck with dismay at the sight of his face, which wore an expression of almost vindictive rage. trembling, she knew not why, except that his appearance frightened her, she allowed him to pull her into the room, and shut the door behind her.
"uncle jasper, what is it? oh!" she cried, for the grip of his fingers hurt her tender flesh. "have i done anything to annoy you? are you angry with me?"
"am i angry with you?" he questioned, giving her a shake. "you dare ask me that, you deceitful, wicked, little girl! were it not for the sake of the others, i would send you away this very night, and you should never darken my doors again!"
"but, uncle jasper, what have i done?" joy asked, in utter amazement.
"what have you done?" sir jasper suddenly dropped his hold of her and sank into a chair. "oh, joy, how could you do it?" he proceeded, his voice softening from anger to reproach. "what tempted you to take t? give it back at once, and i will hush the affair up—no one shall know but your mother—it would not be right to keep it from her!"
"indeed, uncle jasper, i don't know in the least what you are talking about," joy said stressfully; "indeed, indeed i don't!"
"how can you stand there and look me the face with such a falsehood on your lips!" he cried passionately. "and yet, how you wheedled me into believing in you last night! oh, child, it shocks me to find you such a two-faced little girl! come, i don't want to be harsh on you, but you must confess everything, and give the brooch back."
"confess everything, and give the brooch back?" joy echoed, wonderingly. "oh, i don't understand! i don't indeed!"
"do not utter any more falsehoods!" said the old man; "you know perfectly well what you have done. go, and fetch the jewel at once!"
"what jewel?" joy cried, almost wildly, trying hard to keep back the tears which filled her eyes, and threatened to overflow.
"the diamond brooch you stole from my safe whilst i was asleep last night, when you told me you had been closing the window for fear i should catch cold in the draught—pretending to take care of the poor old uncle, when all the time you had been robbing him! fie upon you!"
"uncle jasper, you may believe me or not," said the little girl solemnly, "but i never went near your safe until you told me to lock it and give you the key. oh, do believe me! oh, i think you will break my heart!"
sir jasper regarded her searchingly; he wavered for a moment, for the ring of truth he thought he discerned in her voice puzzled him, and her eyes did not flinch beneath his gaze. rising, he crossed the room to his safe, and examined its contents most carefully. joy watched him turning over papers and documents; and then saw him scrutinising various jewels and ornaments, which he took from a velvet-lined case.
"i have made no mistake," he said at length, shutting the door of the safe, and locking it securely. his excitement was cooling down now, but he felt positive that his companion had taken the missing jewel. he recalled his conversation with her on the previous night, remembered all she had told him concerning his gamekeeper's wife, and her acquaintances at a—, and marvelled how she could have so talked to him. what a consummate hypocrite the child must be!
"it is useless your denying it," he proceeded decidedly. "i know you have stolen the brooch, but i am going to give you an opportunity of bringing it back to me. you need not get it now, for i hear the carriage coming around to the door, and it is time for you and your mother to start for t—. i do not wish any fuss made on the night of your sister's return, she must not come back to find you in disgrace—but, the first thing the morning i shall expect you to bring the brooch back."
"do you mean to say you accuse me of stealing a brooch?" joy said, pressing her hands distractedly to her head, and asking herself if this was all a horrible nightmare, if she was really awake.
"certainly, i accuse you of stealing the butterfly brooch studded with diamonds. ah!"
sir jasper uttered the ejaculation as joy suddenly turned deathly white, and clutched the back of a chair for support. she gazed him with wide-open, horror-stricken eyes, as it was borne upon her mind that his description of the lost jewel tallied with that which miss pring had given her of the brooch which celia had worn at the flower show. for a moment everything swam before her eyes, and sir jasper thought, with alarm, that she was about to faint; but with a mighty effort she regained her composure, and the colour returned to her cheeks and lips.
"bring it back to-morrow, joy," he said, much agitated himself; "bring it back, and no one shall know you took it but your mother. we'll have no fuss to-night. but oh, joy, what made you take it? what tempted you? you could never wear the brooch. what will poor margaret say when she knows the truth?"
joy regarded him in dumb agony. she felt dazed, frightened, incapable of reasoning, only she was conscious of a dreadful fear, a terrible suspicion concerning celia.
"i hear your mother coming downstairs," sir jasper continued, hurriedly; "she will be looking for you if you don't go. remember, not a word to-night; but, to-morrow, bring it back—bring it back!"
joy turned from him without a word, and joined her mother in the hall. she followed her into the carriage, and took the seat by her side.
mrs. wallis, her eyes enjoying the beautiful scenery on every side, scarcely glanced at her little daughter during the drive, so she did not remark her disturbed countenance, nor did she notice her unusual quietude.
joy was actually in a ferment of excitement and indecision. what was she to do? one thing was certain, she would have to speak to her sister that night, and question her about the brooch she had worn at the flower show. was it merely chance that the jewel celia had worn, and the one sir jasper had lost, were of the same pattern? even now she could not believe that celia had been the thief who had robbed sir jasper. the thought was preposterous—incredible! there must be some mistake.
when t— was reached, and the carriage drew up before the tillotsons' house, mrs. wallis and joy both got out, and went inside for a few minutes. the former thanked mr. tillotson cordially for his kindness to celia, and delivered a message from sir jasper to the effect that he hoped lulu would visit them at the moat house before very long, hearing which lulu smiled, and declared that that would be delightful, but determined in her own mind that nothing should induce her to go until she knew for certain that the butterfly brooch was in the possession of its rightful owner.
celia thought joy's manner to her was strangely cool and undemonstrative; but reflected that her sister probably still resented the past, so when she found herself seated opposite to her in the carriage on their way home, she did her utmost with appealing looks, and assurances of the delight she experienced at being with her once more, to overcome her constraint and reserve. celia was actually hungering for her sister's love, and desired greatly to be on the old friendly footing with her again; but joy listened to the other's chatter in comparative silence, and would not be drawn into conversation.
at last, mrs. wallis noticed that something was amiss with her younger daughter, and was on the point of inquiring what was wrong, when the sound of a shrill whistle fell upon their ears, and a traction engine appeared around the turn of the road. sir jasper's spirited horses snorted, flung up their heads, and plunged wildly ere they broke into a gallop. there was a crash as the carriage came into contact with the traction engine, followed by screams and shouts, and the next moment the occupants of the carriage were flung into the roadway, whilst the horses tore on with the wrecked vehicle at their heels.
