Dorothy pressed closely to Urania, and she drew away the brick that now threatened to fall in on the hand of the gypsy girl.
“There!” said Urania, “Do you know what this is?”
“Oh!” screamed Dorothy, “Aunt Winnie’s East Indian cup!”
“Well--I give--up!” was all Major Dale seemed able to say, as he took from the hand of the gypsy girl the treasured relic.
“And you hid it there?” asked Dorothy, taking the cup from her father and holding it up to the candle light.
“No, indeed,” answered the girl. “I found it there. The men had the hole in the wall for their stuff, I suppose, and they saved the cup to drink out of.”
“Oh, how delighted Aunt Winnie will be,” exclaimed Dorothy. “Do let us hurry. She has been constantly worrying over the loss of this--it was to be given to Ned when he came of age.”
“That cup was the gift of an East Indian nobleman,” remarked Major Dale. “Urania, you have repaid us now for all our trouble.”
An hour later Urania had been bathed, dressed and fed by her friends at the Cedars. Mrs. White personally helped the maid to look after the girl’s wants, while Dorothy and Miette brought from their own belongings such articles as seemed fitting to make the poor, miserable, haunted gypsy girl comfortable at last.
Mrs. White had already telephoned to the boys at Cadet Hall, telling them the cup had been found. Major Dale took delight in imparting the same news to the local authorities.
“And now,” said Mrs. White, “since we have found Urania, and she has found the cup, I suppose I shall have to give her that brand new one-hundred-dollar bill I have been saving as the cup reward.”
Dorothy and Miette tried to make Urania understand--she seemed so queer, stunned, or shocked.
“Won’t that be wonderful?” said Miette, smiling.
“And won’t we have great times?” went on Dorothy, slightly lowering the head of the steamer chair in which Urania was pillowed.
Urania looked around her, in a strange, startled way. Then she took Dorothy’s hand. “I think I’ll like to go to school now,” she stammered.
“Of course you will,” spoke Mrs. White. “You want to be just like the other girls, smart, clean and--pretty. Then you, too, may be one of Dorothy’s chums!”
“Yes! yes! always!” murmured Urania. “She is so good!”