Evangelina
agreed with him.
Then, and not until then, did Rosa begin her preparations. First
she made Evangelina cut her hair, a sacrilege that wrung sighs and
tears and loud lamentations from the black woman, after which she
altered the suit of boy's clothing to fit her figure, or rather to
conceal it.
When at last she put it on for O'Reilly's approval she was very
shy, very self-conscious, and so altogether unboylike that he
shook his head positively.
"My dear, you'll never do," he told her. "You are altogether too
pretty."
"But wait until I put that hideous hump upon my back and stain my
face, then you will see how ugly I can look."
"Perhaps," he said, doubtfully. A moment, then his frown
lightened. "You give me a thought," said he. "You shall wear the
jewels."
"Wear them? How?"
"On your back, in that very hump. It will be the safest possible
way to conceal them."
Rosa clapped her hands in delight. "Why, of course! It is the very
thing. Wait until I show you."
Profiting by her first moment alone--Evangelina and her husband
being still in ignorance of the contents of the treasure-box--Rosa
made a bundle out of the jewels and trinkets and fastened it
securely inside her coat. After a few experiments she adjusted it
to her liking, then called O'Reilly once more. This time he was
better satisfied; he was, in truth, surprised at the effect of the
disfigurement, and, after putting Rosa through several rehearsals
in masculine deportment, he pronounced the disguise as nearly
perfect as could be hoped for.
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