When she told him the sum she required, her father had stared at her for a moment as if he could hardly believe that she wanted so much.
But he had said nothing and Sheila felt sure that he would bring her back what she required when he returned from London.
He had done so, but he had taken a suspiciously long time in the pantry when Wilkins had gone off to the village to purchase some food that his wife needed in the kitchen.
Rather stupidly, she thought later, Sheila had said to her father,
“What were you looking for in the pantry, Papa? Wilkins is only in the village for a short while and when he comes back he will find you anything you want.”
“I was looking at some of the old family silver,” her father had replied to her in a casual manner. “Most of it is stamped with our Crest, b
