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Book, page 160 / 462 good humour, begged that Rosamond would now be so good as to produce her "charming present." Rosamond, followed by all the company, amongst whom, to her great joy, was her godmother, proceeded to the dressing room. "Now I am sure," thought she, "Bell will be surprised, and my godmother will see she was right about my generosity." The doors of the wardrobe were opened with due ceremony, and the filigree basket appeared in all its glory. "Well, this is a charming present, indeed!" said the godmother, who was one of the company; "MY Rosamond knows how to make presents." And as she spoke, she took hold of the basket, to lift it down to the admiring audience. Scarcely had she touched it, when, lo! the basket fell to the ground, and only the handle remained in her hand. All eyes were fixed upon the wreck. Exclamations of sorrow were heard in various tones; and "Who can have done this?" was all that Rosamond could say. Bell stood in sullen silence, which she obstinately preserved in the midst of the inquiries that were made about the disaster. At length the servants were summoned, and amongst them, Nancy, Miss Bell's maid and governess. She affected much surprise when she saw what had befallen the basket, and declared that she knew nothing of the matter, but that she had seen her mistress in the morning put it quite safe into the wardrobe; and that, for her part, she had never touched it, or thought of touching it, in her born days. "Nor Miss Bell, neither, ma'am,--I can answer for her; for she never knew of its being there, because I never so much as mentioned it to her, that there was such a thing in the house, because I knew Miss Rosamond wanted to surprise her with the secret; so I never mentioned a sentence of it--did I, Miss Bell?" Bell, putting on the deceitful look which her maid had taught her, answered boldly, "NO;" but she had hold of Rosamond's hand, and at the instant she uttered this falsehood she squeezed it terribly. "Why do you squeeze my hand so?" said Rosamond, in a low voice; "what are you afraid of?" "Afraid of!" cried Bell, turning angrily; "I'm not afraid of anything,-- I've nothing to be afraid about."
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