Dotty stood gazing with surprise, and almost forgetting her trouble.
"She must have brought it over from Poland when she ran away, only it's so heavy. But then I don't s'pose she ran on foot. Came in the night, in the cars, prob'ly. Poland's up by the North Pole. I'm going to ask auntie about it."
But the moment auntie came into her thoughts Dotty was wretched again. She went to a window, drew back the damask curtain, and gazed out.
"The night came on alone, The little stars sat, one by one, Each on his golden throne."
"Those stars twinkle like auntie's rings. Let's see: one was full of little pieces of glass, about as big as raspberry seeds. I shouldn't think glass would cost much. And the other was red, like a drop of blood, with ice frozen over it. That can't be so expensive, should you think, as a string of beads?"
Dotty tried hard to comfort herself, but could not stay comforted.
"You don't s'pose auntie's jewels cost more than my papa is worth? How he must feel to be so poor! If he has to pay for those rings, we shan't get enough to eat. Have to live on crackers and olives. And when we come to the table, father will look at me, and say, 'This is on the account of your naughty conduct, child!' O, dear! I can't speak one word, for it will be true, what he says. Grandma Read will have enough to eat; Norah will set it on her end of the table. Grandma is rich; I've seen her counting over bills in her desk; but how could I ask her for any, when she'd look right in my eyes, and say, 'What was thee doing with other folks' rings on thy thumbs?'
"Well, I know 'twasn't right; but 'twas Prudy's fault some. If she hadn't told me not to so hard, I _persume_ I shouldn't. What made her speak up, and get me started?
"O, did you ever see such a beautiful string of beads? One, two, three,--I guess there are a thousand."
Dotty threw the necklace over her head, and the air became as fragrant as a garden of spices.
"I don't mean to meddle with other peoples' things any more; mother has taught me better. But there's one thought keeps coming into my mind: Isn't it wicked to have so much jewelry? The 'postles didn't wear any, nor Job didn't wear any, nor Moses.
"Well, nor auntie don't, either. Nothing but a watch and wedding-ring. Horace says that's so queer.