She stooped as she spoke and began that examination which she knew beforehand must be fruitless. Mabel stood with her back to the two, looking out of the window. Annie longed to shake her. Was not her very attitude giving the whole thing away? "I really can't find it," said Annie after a moment's pause. "Do come and look yourself, May. Are you dazed? Have you lost your senses? Oh, I know, poor darling May! it is sorrow at parting with poor little me.-- Parker, Miss Mabel just adores me; don't you, precious one! Well, well, Parker will do all she can for you when I am gone." "I can't take your place, Miss Brooke. I am really sorry you have to go.--But now, Miss Mabel, the best thing to do is just to empty the lid of the trunk. We'll get to the box that way without disarranging all your pretty things." The lid of the trunk was speedily emptied, and of course no necklace was found. "There!" said Annie. Her heart was beating so fast that the pallor of her face was far from assumed. The fear in her eyes, too, seemed only too natural. "Some one has stolen it!" she said to Parker. She clasped the woman's arm. "What _are_ we to do?" Parker looked distinctly annoyed. Mabel stood stonily silent, apparently almost indifferent. "Miss Lushington," said the woman--"do wake up and consider, miss. Perhaps you _didn't_ put it into the lid of the trunk; perhaps you put the box that held the necklace somewhere else." "No, I didn't; I put it into the lid," said Mabel. "I won't say I put it anywhere else; the lid will do; I put it there. I won't be bothered about it!" She marched out of the room, got as far as the wide landing, and burst out crying. Her queer conduct and queer words terrified Annie and amazed Parker. "What _is_ the matter with Miss Mabel, miss?" said the maid, turning to the girl. Annie put her pretty, white hand on Parker's arm. "Leave her alone with me for a little, please, Parker. Just go off and pack my things, like the jewel you are. She is awfully upset at my going--and you know I must, on account of my dear uncle." Annie's voice quavered. Indeed, she herself was very nearly breaking down. "I must go, you know, Parker," she said, her pretty eyes filling with tears which only added to their beauty. "But I'll manage Mabel. It _is_ dreadful about the necklace; but perhaps you will recover it." "We never will," said Parker. "It's a dreadful bit of business. Her ladyship will be wild. She does so hate it when anything is stolen. But there are lots of robberies taking place on the railways of late. It is a perfect disgrace. Even the registering of your goods seems not to secure things. Of course I always carry the jewels in my own hand; it's the only safe way. Miss Mabel must have been mad to put a valuable necklace such as her ladyship described into that old trunk." "It wasn't nearly so valuable as Lady Lushington supposed; that is the only comfort," said Annie.