THE LOST HALF-SOVEREIGN. 5.

“T have lost a half-sovereign —a ten-shilling

)

piece in gold, Miss Flossie,” replied nurse.

“Out of your pocket? Dropped it, do you
mean?” said Floss.

“Oh, no! I had it in my purse; at least, I
thought I had,” said nurse. “It was a half-
sovereign of your mamma’s, that she gave me
to pay Mrs. White with for Master Jack’s things
and part of last week that was left over; and I
wrapped it up with a shilling and a sixpence
— jit came to eleven and six altogether — in
a piece of paper, and put it in my drawer in
the nursery; and before I came out I put the
packet in my purse. And when I opened it
at Mrs. White’s, no half-sovereign was there!
Only the shilling and the sixpence!”

“You didn’t drop it at Mrs. White’s, did
you? Should we go back and look 2?” said
Floss, standing still, as if ready to run off
that moment.

“No, no, my dear! It’s not at Mrs. White's.
She and I searched all over, and she’s as hon-

est a body as could be,” replied nurse. “ No;