At last the prize on which all Rose’s hopes were set was put up for sale.  Polly’s magnificent sealskin jacket was held aloft and displayed to the admiring and coveteous gaze of many.  Rose’s face brightened; an eager, greedy look filled her eyes.  She actually trembled in her anxiety to secure this prize of prizes.

Maggie Oliphant, who was standing in a listless, indifferent attitude near the door, not taking the smallest part in the active proceedings which were going forward, was for the first time aroused to interest by the expression on Rosalind’s face.  She moved a step or two into the crowd, and when one or two timid bids were heard for the coveted treasure, she raised her own voice and for the first time appeared eager to secure something for herself.

Rose bid against her, an angry flush filling her blue eyes as she did so.  Maggie nonchalantly made her next bid a little higher—­ Rose raised hers.  Soon they were the only two in the field; other girls had come to the limit of their purses and withdrew vanquished.

Rosalind’s face grew very white.  Could she have knock Maggie Oliphant down with a blow she would have done so at that moment.  Maggie calmly and quietly continued her bids, raising them gradually higher and higher.  Five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten pounds:  Rose had come to the end of her resources.  She stepped away with a bitter smile on her face.  The sealskin jacket was Maggie Oliphant’s property for ten guineas.

Maggie laid it carelessly on a table near, and returning once more to her position near the door, watched the sale proceed.  One by one Polly Singleton parted with her dresses, her pictures, her furniture.  At last, opening a case, she proceeded to dispose of some trinkets, none of which, with the exception of the pink coral set, was of very high value.  This, which consisted of necklace, bracelets, and earrings, and some pretty pins for the hair, was most eagerly coveted by many.  Several girls bid for the coral, and Maggie, who had not raised her voice since she secured the sealskin jacket, once more noticed the greedy glitter in Rosalind’s eyes.

“I can’t help it,” she said, turning and speaking in a low voice to Priscilla, who stood by her side—­ “I can’t help it, Prissie; I don’t want that coral a bit—­ coral doesn’t suit me:  I dislike it as an ornament.  But something inside of me says Rose Merton shall not wear it.  Stay here, Prissie, I’ll be back in a minute.”

Miss Oliphant moved forward; she was so tall that her head could be seen above those of most of the other girls.

The bids for the coral had now risen to three pounds ten.  Maggie at one bound raised them ten shillings.  Rose bid against her, and for a short time one or two other girls raised their previous offers.  The price for the coral rose and rose.  Soon a large sum was offered for it, and still the bids kept rising.  Rosalind and Maggie were once more alone in the field, and now any onlooker could perceive that it was not the desire to obtain the pretty ornaments, but the wish for victory which animated both girls.