"I do not wish to deny it," she cried defiantly. "I did it, and I frightened all your fine company, too! I am very glad of it." John Glenalvan sprang toward her with upraised hand as though he would strike her, but she stepped quickly out of his reach, and he said, with sullen rage: "You hear the little Jezebel, father. Take care, take care that I do not put my long-pending threat into execution." "John, she is but a playful child," he pleaded, pitifully. "She meant no harm, I am sure. Oh, Golden, my darling! why did you do it?" "To spite the girls, grandpa, for their cruelty to me," she replied, "but I am very sorry now, since it has grieved you so. Believe me, grandpa, I did not think you would ever hear of it. Can you forgive me?" she pleaded, wistfully. "You must ask your uncle's forgiveness, not mine, my dear," was the tremulous reply. "I will not ask his pardon," she replied, stoutly, her blue eyes flashing, and the color flaming into her cheeks, "I am sorry to have displeased you, grandpa, dear, but I do not in the least care for anyone else whether they are offended or not." "Where did you get the fine toggery you wore last night?" demanded John Glenalvan, his fingers tingling with the impulse to slap the fair, defiant face. "That is no concern of yours," she replied, resentfully. "Tell me, dear," whispered old Hugh, intent on preserving a semblance of peace if it were possible. Golden threw open the door of the wardrobe and showed him the brocade, which looked very yellow and old in the clear light of day. "She had a necklace of pearls around her neck," said John, in an artful aside to his father. "Did you, Golden?" asked her grandfather. Golden went to the little toilet-table and took up the costly necklace which John Glenalvan instantly snatched from her hand and placed in his pocket. Golden looked at him, tearful, dismayed, and excessively angry. "Give them back to me," she cried. "They are mine! I found them--indeed I did, grandpa. They had fallen through a hole in the pocket of the dress into the skirt lining. They are mine, and you shall give them back to me, Uncle John." "I will show you whether I will or not," he replied. "The necklace belongs to me. Everything in the house belongs to me, as well as the estate itself. You only have a home on sufferance here. Take care that you do not lose that." "Is it true, grandpa?" asked Golden, and the old man nodded sadly. John Glenalvan took down the white brocade, and carried it away in a compact bundle under his arm. "I shall take this away," he said, "to make sure that you do not play any more disgraceful tricks upon us. I depend upon you, father, to see that she keeps to this room, and behaves herself for the remainder of the week. If she does not, I emphatically assure you that you both will suffer through her willfulness and disobedience!"