“Oh, sales,” vaguely.  “Things are so cheap in Detroit and Jessica Bremner is a born shopper.  She gets wonderful bargains.  Anyway, I got them, and I’m not a cent in debt.”

“What’s debt?” asked Jane.

“Buying what you can’t pay for, Janie.”

“Oh, mother paid for everything.  I saw her.  It’s Mrs. Bremner that’s in debt, isn’t she, mother?”

“Don’t be silly, Jane, of course not.  Jessica is far better off than we are.”

“But she only gave you half the money for the ring.  I heard her say—­”

“Jane, get those slippers at once.”

“I’m going.  But Mrs. Bremner said—­”

Mrs. Coombe’s hand came down with stinging force upon the child’s ear.

“Will you obey me—­or will you not?”

Jane retired wailing and her mother sank back into her veranda chair, red spots burning through the powder on her cheeks.

Esther sat very still for a moment, and then, without looking at the other, she asked in a low voice: 

“What did she mean?”

“How should I know?” fretfully.

“What ring did Mrs. Bremner give you money for?  Did—­you have to sell one of your rings?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Which one?”

“Oh, don’t bother me, Esther.”

“But I want to know which one.”

“It was the big red one!” called Jane from the hallway, where she had waited, safely out of reach.

Mary Coombe sprang up, fury blazing in her eyes, but Jane had fled, and Esther, cool and capable, was blocking the doorway.

“Sit down, mother.  I’ve got to know about this.  What ring does she mean?”

For an instant the older woman hesitated, then with a little shrug she turned back to the chair.  The fury had died away as quickly as it had arisen.

“I knew you would be disagreeable,” she said.  “And you were bound to hear about the ring some time.  Jane is the most ungrateful child, and a little tell-tale; the makings of a regular little cat!  I’m sure I spent her full share on her, and I’ve brought you something nice, too.  Not that I expect to be thanked for it.  Of course I had to have some money.  I hadn’t a rag to wear, not a rag.  And I got everything ready made.  It’s cheaper.  Anyway, I can’t stand dressmakers any more.  They paw one so.  I can’t bear to be touched, my wretched nerves!  And I remembered the fuss you made about the bills last time.  You know you did make a fuss, Esther, as if all your dear father left belonged to you and not to me—­”

“But what did you do?”

“I’m telling you, amn’t I?  I sold the ring, of course.”

“Which ring?”

“The ruby ring.  It’s the only one that is worth anything!”

“You sold Aunt Amy’s ring?”

“If you wish to put it that way, yes.  I consider it is as much my ring as hers.  She is my aunt and it is understood that all her things will come to me.  She has lived here ever since I was married and I think it’s a funny thing if she can’t help me out occasionally.  I simply had to have money and the ruby was the only thing worth selling.  Good Heavens!  Don’t look so crazy.  One would think I had stolen it!”