THE LAST WISH
Martha had flounced off. "She was not at all a nice lady, I thought. And mother hasn't any diamonds, and hardly any jewels—the topaz necklace, and the sapphire ring daddy gave her when they were engaged, and the garnet star, and the little pearl brooch with great-grandpapa's hair in it,—that's about all."
"When I'm grown up I'll buy mother no end of diamonds," said Robert, "if she wants them. I shall make so much money exploring in Africa I shan't know what to do with it."
"Wouldn't it be jolly," said Jane dreamily, "if mother could find all these lovely things, necklaces and rivers of diamonds and tarrers?"
"Ti—aras," said Cyril.
"Ti—aras, then,—and rings and everything in her room when she came home. I wish she would"—
The others gazed at her in horror.
"Well, she will," said Robert; "you've wished, my good Jane—and our only chance
291
