"I'm very glad to go out with you," said Bee simply.
"And I'm very glad to have you," said Mrs. Vincent.
"Aunt Lillias," said Bee, her voice trembling a little, "may I ask you
one thing? _You_ don't think I touched Rosy's necklace?"
Mrs. Vincent smiled.
"_Certainly_ not, dear," she said. "I did at first think you
might have forgotten to put it back that day. But after your telling
me so distinctly that you _had_ put it back, I felt quite
satisfied that you had done so."
"But," said Bee, and then she hesitated.
"But what?" said Mrs. Vincent, smiling.
"I don't think--I _didn't_ think," Bee went on, gaining courage,
"that you had been quite the same to me since then."
"And you have been fancying all kinds of reasons for it, I suppose!"
said Mrs. Vincent. "Well, Bee, the only thing I have been not quite
pleased with you for _has_ been your looking so unhappy. I was
surprised at your seeming so hurt and vexed at my asking you about the
necklace, and since then you have looked so miserable that I had begun
seriously to think it might be better for you not to stay with us. If
Rosy or any one else has disobeyed me, and gone on talking about the
necklace, it is very wrong, but even then I wonder at your allowing
foolish words to make you so unhappy. _Has_ any one spoken so as
to hurt you?"
"No," said Bee, "not exactly, but--"
"But you have seen that there were unkind thoughts about you.
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