YOURS WITH ALL MY HEART 



But the mistress said, " Oh, no, Inez, don't 

 hurry so; take time to dress yourself, and I 

 will be leisurely getting seated. I do not 

 need any help, so long as you bring the 

 little one.' 



So she went out holding her little toddling 

 boy by the hand, paused to admire the beau- 

 tiful white running-rose that was garlanding 

 the porch, then walked slowly to the car- 

 riage. The maid peeped stealthily out at 

 her, in such a queer peek-a-boo way, that 

 Skippum and I stopped playing, and began 

 to stare at Inez. Then such a strange and 

 sudden sight as we beheld! 



Inez seemed transformed into a wild, 

 guilty thing that had lost her reason. She 

 fairly tore all the drawers from the pretty 

 dressing-table and bureau, and threw their 

 contents over the floor, all but one thing, 

 the dear little scarlet velvet jewel-bag, 

 with its cunning satin pockets, where all the 

 precious shining stones were tucked away; 

 that, with shaking hands, she thrust into a 

 deep pocket she had made that very morn- 

 ing and sewed under her dress. 



The baby was looking right at her with 

 his wide blue eyes, and she looked so strange 



97 



