1 66 More Tales of the Birds 



" ' Policeman, search him,' said Miss Pringle, 

 shaking her curls sadly. 



" The policeman turned my pockets out, but 

 only found a small curtain-ring, with which I had 

 been betrothed to Nelly a day or two before. 

 (She had another like it ; we couldn't wear them 

 on our fingers, so we kept them always in our 

 pockets.) 



"'Cook, take the policeman to search his 

 room,' said Miss Pringle, with another shake. 



"Cook and policeman went down the garden. 

 Miss Pringle locked the door and pocketed the 

 key. ' I don't accuse you,' she said, ' but I must 

 take precautions.' 



"It was now that I first thought of the money 

 in my drawer. I turned hot all over, and felt my 

 head swimming. 



" ' Please, ma'am,' I stammered, 'there's money 

 in my room, but I was given it by a ' 



" ' Don't incriminate yourself,' said she, coldly 

 and precisely ; ' there are no witnesses present. 

 Silence.' 



" The cook and policeman came up the garden ; 

 I can hear their footsteps on the gravel now, and 



