Why Lettice Lane should have shaken all over in telling this, was a marvel. Her very teeth chattered. Anna inquired; but all the answer given by the girl was, that it had "put her into a twitter." Sophie Chalk's countenance was full of compassion, and I liked her for it. "Don't let it trouble you, Lettice," she said kindly. "If the studs are missing, I dare say they will be found. Just before I came down here my sister lost a brooch from her dressing-table. The whole house was searched for it, the servants were uncomfortable----" "And was it found, miss?" interrupted Lettice, too eager to let her finish. "Of course it was found. Jewels don't get hopelessly lost in gentlemen's houses. It had fallen down, and, caught in the lace of the toilette drapery, was lying hid within its folds." "Oh, thank you, miss; yes, perhaps the studs have fallen too," said Lettice Lane as she went out. Helen looked after her in some curiosity. "Why should the loss trouble _her_? Lettice has nothing to do with Miss Deveen's jewels." "Look here, Helen, I wish we had never said we should like to steal the things," spoke Sophie Chalk. "It was all in jest, of course, but this would not be a nice sequel to it." "Why--yes--you did say it, some of you," cried Anna, who, until then, had seemed buried in thought; and her face flushed. "What if we did?" retorted Helen, looking at her in some slight surprise. Soon after this, in going up to Bill's room, I met Lettice Lane. She was running down with a plate, and looked whiter than ever. "Are the studs found, Lettice?" "No, sir." The answer was short, the manner scared. Helen had wondered why the loss should affect her; and so did I. "Where's the use of your being put out over it, Lettice? You did not take them." "No, Master Johnny, I did not; but--but----" looking round and dropping her voice, "I am afraid I know who did; and it was through me. I'm a'most mad." This was rather mysterious. She gave no opportunity for more, but ran down as though the stairs were on fire. I went on to Bill's chamber, and found Tod and Harry with him: they were laughing over a letter from some fellow at Oxford. Standing at the window close by the inner door, which was ajar, I heard Lettice Lane go into the dressing-room and speak to Mrs. Lease in a half whisper. "I can't bear this any longer," she said. "If you have taken those studs, for Heaven's sake put them back. I'll make some excuse--say I found them under the carpet, or slipped under the drawers--anything--only put them back!" "I don't know what you mean," replied Mrs. Lease, who always spoke as though she had only half a voice. "Yes, you do. You have got the studs." By the pause that ensued, Nurse Lease seemed to have lost the power of speech. Lettice took the opportunity to put it more strongly. "If you've got them about you, give them into my hand now, and I'll manage the rest. Not a living soul shall ever know of this if you will. Oh, do give them to me!"