The Diamond Mines

           Notverylongafterthisaveryexcitingthinghappened.NotonlySara,buttheentireschool,founditexciting,andmadeitthechiefsubjectofconversationforweeksafteritoccurred.InoneofhislettersCaptainCrewetoldamostinterestingstory.AfriendwhohadbeenatschoolwithhimwhenhewasaboyhadunexpectedlycometoseehiminIndia.Hewastheownerofalargetractoflanduponwhichdiamondshadbeenfound,andhewasengagedindevelopingthemines.Ifallwentaswasconfidentlyexpected,hewouldbecomepossessedofsuchwealthasitmadeonedizzytothinkof;andbecausehewasfondofthefriendofhisschooldays,hehadgivenhimanopportunitytoshareinthisenormousfortunebybecomingapartnerinhisscheme.This,atleast,waswhatSaragatheredfromhisletters.Itistruethatanyotherbusinessscheme,howevermagnificent,wouldhavehadbutsmallattractionforherorfortheschoolroom;but"diamondmines"soundedsoliketheArabianNightsthatnoonecouldbeindifferent.Sarathoughtthemenchanting,andpaintedpictures,forErmengardeandLottie,oflabyrinthinepassagesinthebowelsoftheearth,wheresparklingstonesstuddedthewallsandroofsandceilings,andstrange,darkmendugthemoutwithheavypicks.Ermengardedelightedinthestory,andLottieinsistedonitsbeingretoldtohereveryevening.Laviniawasveryspitefulaboutit,andtoldJessiethatshedidn’tbelievesuchthingsasdiamondminesexisted.

           "Mymammahasadiamondringwhichcostfortypounds,"shesaid."Anditisnotabigone,either.Iftherewereminesfullofdiamonds,peoplewouldbesorichitwouldberidiculous."

           "PerhapsSarawillbesorichthatshewillberidiculous,"giggledJessie.

           "She’sridiculouswithoutbeingrich,"Laviniasniffed.

           "Ibelieveyouhateher,"saidJessie.