What has she taken to pawn? Oh, dear! this anxiety is
terrible--and yet, and yet, how glad I am to know those orphan girls."
Miss Egerton was very tired, had just returned from the death-bed of
her dearest friend, had certainly heaps of worries of her own; but
that did not prevent her whole heart from going out to Jasmine with an
affection which was almost motherly.
When at last she found the little girl just coming out of Spiller's
pawnshop she laid a trembling hand on her arm.
"Jasmine, oh, my dear child, you have been in there! You have been
pawning something."
Jasmine was in such a depressed state of mind that even Miss Egerton's
unexpected return failed to astonish her. She said, raising two sad
eyes to the good lady's face--
"It was only that old Spanish lace. I always knew it was not worth
much. The man only laughed when I asked for Poppy's wages for it. He
has given me ten shillings, and I am going off with it to Poppy
to-night. Yes, Miss Egerton, I must, I really must."
"What have you tried to pawn, Jasmine?" asked Miss Egerton, when she
could find her voice. "Surely not that lovely, valuable Spanish lace.
My dear child, come back with me into the shop this moment.
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