Mrs. Daniels took one long deep breath and came from the bureau.
Instantly Mr. Gryce stooped and pulled out the drawer she had so
visibly protected. A white towel met our eyes, spread neatly out at
its full length. Lifting it, we looked beneath. A carefully folded
dress of dark blue silk, to all appearance elegantly made, confronted
our rather eager eyes. Beside it, a collar of exquisite lace--I know
enough of such matters to be a judge--pricked through by a gold
breast-pin of a strange and unique pattern. A withered bunch of what
appeared to have been a bouquet of red roses, surmounted the whole,
giving to the otherwise commonplace collection the appearance of a
relic from the tomb.
We both drew back in some amazement, involuntarily glancing up at Mrs.
Daniels.
"I have no explanation to give," said that woman, with a calmness
strangely in contrast to the agitation she had displayed while Mr.
Blake had remained in the room. "That those things rich as they are,
really belonged to the girl, I have no doubt. She brought them when
she came, and they only confirm what I have before intimated: that
she was no ordinary sewing girl, but a woman who had seen better
days."
With a low "humph!" and another glance at the dark blue dress and
delicate collar, Mr.
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