"Please come in!"
The chocolate cake was all Bert and Nan hoped it would be, and besides
that Miss Pompret set out on the table for them each a glass of milk.
They looked around the beautiful but old-fashioned room, noting the dark
mahogany furniture, the cut glass on the side-board, and, over in one
corner, a glass cupboard, through the clear doors of which could be seen
some china dishes.
Miss Pompret saw Nan looking at this set of china, and the elderly lady
smiled as she said:
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"Yes," said Nan, softly. "I love pretty dishes."
"And these are my greatest treasure," said Miss Pompret. "I am very
proud of them. They have been in my family over a hundred years. But
there is a sad story about it--a very sad story about the old Pompret
china." And the lady's face clouded.
"Did somebody break it?" asked Bert. Once he had broken a plate of which
his mother was very proud, and he remembered how sad she felt.
"No, my china wasn't broken," said Miss Pompret. "In fact, there is a
sort of mystery about it."
"Oh, please tell me!" begged Nan. "I like nice dishes and I like
stories."
She and Bert looked at the closet of choice china dishes.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53