" Miss Day then in a few eager
whispers, which Maggie in vain endeavored to suppress, gave her chain
of evidence. Rosalind's distress; her passionate desire to keep the
coral; her entreaties that Miss Day would lend her four guineas; her
assurances that she had not a penny in the world to pay her debt; her
fears that it was utterly useless for her to expect the money from her
mother. Then the curious fact that, on the very same evening, Polly
Singleton should have been given a five-pound note by her. "There is
not the least doubt," concluded Miss Day, "that Rosalind must have
gone into your room, Miss Oliphant, and stolen the note while
Priscilla was absent. You know Miss Peel said that she did leave your
room for a moment or two to fetch her Lexicon. Rosalind must have
seized the opportunity; there cannot be a doubt of it."
Maggie's face turned white; her eyes were full of indignation and
horror.
"Something must be done," continued Annie. "I am no prude, but I draw
the line at thieves. Miss Merton ought to be expelled; she is not fit
to speak to one of us."
"The affair is mine," said Maggie after a pause. "You must let me deal
with it."
"Will you?"
"I certainly will."
"To-night?"
"I cannot say. I must think.
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