The Maid's Secret

The golden Fabergé egg functions as a symbol of the way that the “worth” of something can shift depending on the values of the observer. The egg first appears in the story as a sentimental object that Molly believes has little monetary value. When the Bees lay eyes on it, however, its meaning shifts: It is a one-of-a-kind prototype that has both historical significance and great financial value. This sudden “discovery” of its worth is similar to the furor over Molly herself after she appears on Hidden Treasures: As her grandfather says, “You’re a bit like the Fabergé […] Suddenly people see your value” (88). Of course, when the egg disappears, Molly’s value to others also seems to disappear—except to those true friends who have always understood her worth.

In Flora’s diary, more is revealed about the shifting value of the Fabergé egg. When it first appeared in Flora’s life, she felt that it symbolized how much more valuable possessions were than people to the Grays and the Brauns, drawing a connection to the theme of The Impact of Class and Privilege. Feeling how easily she herself could be cast aside by her parents when they no longer felt she was valuable to them, she compared herself to the golden egg, telling the egg, “Beware […] You may be a coveted treasure one day and pitched to the curb the next” (253).