you is a secret, a solemn, solemn secret. Ef yer Aunt Lydia gets wind
on it, or ef she ever even guesses as you have all that money,
everything 'ull be ruined. Yer aunt is hard and saving, and she do
hanker sore for money, she always did--did Lydia, and not all the
stories you could tell her 'ud make her leave you that money; she 'ud
take it away, she 'ud be quite cruel enough to take the money away
that I worked myself into my grave to save, and then it 'ud be all up
with Lovedy. No, Cecile, you must take the purse o' money away with
you this very night, hide it in yer dress, or anywhere, for Aunt
Lydia may be here early in the morning, and the weakness may be on me
then. Yes, Cecile, you has charge on that money, fifty-five pounds in
all; fifteen pounds for you to spend, and forty to give to Lovedy.
Wherever you go, you must hide it so safe that no one 'ull ever guess
as a poor little girl like you has money, for anyone might rob you,
child; but the one as I'm fearing the most is yer Aunt Lydia."




CHAPTER III.

"NEVER A MOMENT TO GET READY."


To all these directions Cecile listened, and she there and then took
the old worn purse with its precious contents away with her, and went
into the bedroom which she shared with her brother, and taking out
her needle and thread she made a neat, strong bag for the purse, and
this bag she sewed securely into the lining of her frock-body. She
showed her stepmother what she had done, who smiled and seemed