“You will be glad to see him?”

“Very glad.”

Meta looked at her in a puzzled way.  Reports of Hammond’s love affair had reached her ears.  She had expected to see emotion and confusion on Maggie’s face; it looked bright and pleased.  Her “very glad” had a genuine ring about it.

“I am so delighted he is coming!” repeated Meta.  “I do trust he will be here in good time.”

She led Miss Oliphant to a prominent seat at the top of the room as she spoke.

“I shall have to leave soon after ten,” replied Maggie, “so, if Mr. Hammond cannot arrive until after that hour, I shall not have the pleasure of seeing him.”

“Oh, but you must really stay later than that; it would be too cruel to leave us so early.”

“I am afraid I cannot.  The gates are closed at St. Benet’s at eleven o’clock, and I do not care to remain out until the last moment.”

Meta was obliged, with great reluctance, to leave her guest, and a moment later Annie Day came up eagerly to Maggie’s side.

“It’s all right,” she said, drawing Miss Oliphant into the shelter of a window; “I have found out all I want to know.”

“What is that?” asked Maggie.

“Rosalind Merton is the thief.”

“Miss Day, how can you say such dreadful things?”

“How can Rosalind do them?  I am awfully sorry—­ indeed, I am disgusted—­ but the facts are too plain.”  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.  The whole thing is terrible, it upsets me.”

“I thought you would feel it.  I am a good bit upset myself and so is Lucy Marsh.”

“Does Miss Marsh know, too?  In that case, Miss Day, it will, I fear, be my duty to consult Miss Heath.  Oh, I must think; I can do nothing hastily.  Please, Miss Day, keep your own counsel for the present, and ask Miss Marsh to do the same.”