"
Mrs. Peckover saw that she must change her tactics, or be defeated.
"Don't you be so dreadful obstinate, Master Zack, and I'll tell you the
reason," she said in an altered tone, leading the way lower down into
the passage. "I don't want you to give her a Hair Bracelet, because I
believe it will bring ill-luck to her--there!"
Zack burst out laughing. "Do you call that a reason? Who ever heard of
a Hair Bracelet being an unlucky gift?"
At this moment, the door of Mrs. Blyth's room opened.
"Anything wrong with the lock?" asked Valentine from above. He was
rather surprised at the time that elapsed without his hearing the
house-door shut.
"All quite right, sir," said Mrs. Peckover; adding in a whisper to
Zack:--"Hush! don't say a word!"
"Don't let him keep you in the cold with his nonsense," said Valentine.
"My nonsense!--" began Zack, indignantly.
"He's going, sir," interrupted Mrs. Peckover. "I shall be upstairs in a
moment."
"Come in, dear, pray! You're letting all the cold air into the room,"
exclaimed the voice of Mrs. Blyth.
The door of the room closed again.
"What _are_ you driving at?" asked Zack, in extreme bewilderment.
"I only want you to give her some other present," said Mrs.
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