"I am sure she would," remarked Miss Johnson.--"I hadn't the least idea, Maggie, that you had such treasures in those old tin boxes. They must be carefully put away in the safe for you. My dear girl, they're worth a great deal of money." "Oh, I don't suppose they are," said Maggie, trying to speak carelessly, although she by no means wished to part with her treasures. "I tell you what," said Kathleen. "Can't we make an exhibition of them on _the_ day?" "Yes, why not?" said Molly and Isabel. "That would be quite lovely." "Oh yes, do!--do, Maggie darling!" said Merry Cardew. Maggie at once agreed; and Miss Johnson said, "Now, if you will put them all back in their boxes I will take them and lock them into the safe myself. I shouldn't have an easy moment if I thought such valuable things were in one of your school-trunks." "Oh!" said Maggie, looking up with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, "please--please let me keep them until after our party. Then we will consult Mrs. Ward, and she will tell me what to do." "If you must keep them, then, Maggie," said Miss Johnson, "you had better have them in your own bedroom. They would be at least safe there. Put them into your locked drawer, dear; I think it will hold both these boxes." "Thank you very much," said Maggie. She put the ten bracelets into their tin box, and the necklets and other curios into the other, locked each, and took them upstairs. "It would never, never do," she said to herself, "for me to lose control of these precious things. I am almost sorry now that I allowed the girls to tempt me to show them." After a few minutes she came downstairs. Her stepfather's allowance of pocket-money was certainly not ample, and she knew that at the party which was to be so specially distinguished she must give, if she wished to keep up her prestige in the school, a lion's share towards the expenses. There was a quaint little brooch in one of her boxes containing one large ruby and set with diamonds which she intended to sell in order to provide herself with funds. But what use would any of her treasures be if they were consigned to the safe at Aylmer House?