7. The Diamond Mines Again
When Sara ehe holly-hung schoolroom iernoon, she did so as the head of a sort of procession. Miss Min, in her gra silk dress, led her by the hand. A manservant followed, carrying the box taining the Last Doll, a housemaid carried a sed box, and Becky brought up the rear, carrying a third and wearing a apron and a ne. Sara would have much preferred to enter in the usual way, but Miss Min had sent for her, and, after an interview in her private sitting room, had expressed her wishes.
"This is not an ordinary occasion," she said. "I do not desire that it should be treated as one."
So Sara was led grandly in a shy when, on her entry, the big girls stared at her and touched each others elbows, and the little ones began to squirm joyously in their seats.
"Silence, young ladies!" said Miss Min, at the murmur which arose. "James, place the box oable and remove the lid. Emma, put yours upon a chair. Becky!" suddenly and severely.
Becky had quite fotten herself in her excitement, and was grinning at Lottie, riggling with rapturous expectation. She almost dropped her box, the disapproving voice so startled her, and her frightened, bobbing curtsy of apology was so funny that Lavinia and Jessie tittered.
"It is not your place to look at the young ladies," said Miss Min. "You fet yourself. Put your box down."
Becky obeyed with alarmed haste and hastily backed toward the door.
"You may leave us," Miss Min annouo the servants with a wave of her hand.
Becky stepped aside respectfully to allow the superior servants to pass out first. She could not help casting a longing gla the box oable. Something made of blue satin eeping from between the folds of tissue paper.
"If you please, Miss Min," said Sara, suddenly, "maynt Becky stay?"
It was a bold thing to do. Miss Min was betrayed into something like a slight jump. The her eyeglass up, and gazed at her show pupil disturbedly.
"Becky!" she exclaimed. "My dearest Sara!"
Sara advanced a step toward her.
"I want her because I know she will like to see the presents," she explained. "She is a little girl, too, you know."
Miss Min was sdalized. She glanced from one figure to the other.
"My dear Sara," she said, "Becky is the scullery maid. Scullery maids--er--are not little girls."
It really had not occurred to her to think of them in that light. Scullery maids were maes who carried coal scuttles and made fires.
"But Becky is," said Sara. "And I know she would enjoy herself. Please let her stay--because it is my birthday."
Miss Min replied with much dignity:
"As you ask it as a birthday favor--she may stay. Rebecca, thank Miss Sara for her great kindness."
Becky had been bag into the er, twisting the hem of her apron in delighted suspense. She came forward, bobbing curtsies, but between Saras eyes and her own there passed a gleam of friendly uanding, while her words tumbled over each other.
"Oh, if you please, miss! Im that grateful, miss! I did want to see the doll, miss, that I did. Thank you, miss. And thank you, maam,"--turning and making an alarmed bob to Miss Min-- "for lettiake the liberty."
Miss Min waved her hand again--this time it was in the dire of the er he door.
"Go and stand there," she anded. "Not too he young ladies."
Becky went to her place, grinning. She did not care where she was sent, so that she might have the luc