little, and I know Mrs. Raymond and her other children would like to have it, to say nothing of the girls, so I am going to manage in this way. Blanche is coming to us for Easter, and then I mean to get this sovereign conveyed to her-anonymously, you know-only letting it be made clear that it's for no other purpose than being photographed; then we shall take her to the town and see her done, and thus make sure of it, and I can venture to say she will be very pleased and so will a good many other people too. But I know that while there are so many necessary calls upon her mother's purse, she feels it would not be right to spend anything on what is only pleasure; but you see if it is sent to her on purpose she can't get out of it." "Oh, that's jolly!" said Martie, and Lucy gave Grace a kiss.

"But it's a secret, you know, as much as yours."

"Oh, yes.

You may trust us."

Here a great thundering at the door announced Jack's impatience, and Grace started up. She found she was wanted to help in some preparations for the amusement of the school children, so the private conference came satisfactorily to an end.

CHAP. IX.-MILD MAGIC.

HE girls' and boys' party in the servants' hall that evening was very amusing.

There were between forty and fifty visitors, all inclined to be very shy, but at the same time particularly well-behaved. Edith and Amy presided at one long table, Grace and Florence at the other, and the younger girls waited upon the guests. The boys did not come in till afterwards, but when tea was over they appeared, and games began-blind man's buff and snapdragon—and others followed. After nearly two hours of this work every one became exceedingly warm, and while a bountiful supply of oranges was being handed round, Lucy whispered to Grace, who had now quite won her heart, and presently she said in a grave voice, "I think until we are all a good deal cooler we had better try something quiet. Now," she continued, "you may perhaps not know that this

young lady" (bringing Lucy forward) "is able to tell without seeing it, what goes on in the room while she is out of it."-(Suppressed whispers of "She can't, though!" "Is she a witch, then?" "Nay! that's more'n I'll believe, neither!")" You don't believe it?" continued Grace, addressing the last whisperer; "well, then, we shall see! Miss Graham, oblige me by kindly walking out of the room. While you are absent Ruth Evans shall think of something or touch something, and you shall come in and see if you can find out what she saw or touched. Now go!"

So Lucy went.

As soon as the door was safely closed, Grace requested the doubting visitor to think of or touch something; and preferring the latter, as became a true daughter of British soil, she went up to the fireplace, and taking up a small piece of charred wood from the hearth, threw it on the fire and returned to her seat. Then Lucy was summoned, and Grace said, "Ruth Evans has touched something in your absence."

Lucy bowed.

"Did she touch her hair?" asked Grace. "No."

"Did she touch the evergreens on the wall?" "No."

"Did she touch the curtains?" "No."

"Did she touch the plate of oranges

"No."

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"Did she touch her sister?" "No."

?"

"Did she touch the window?" "No." "Did she touch a piece of wood on the hearth?"

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Yes."

Well, I never!"

"She must ha' seen!"

"No, indeed I did not," said the accused.
"Shall we try again?" said Grace.
"Please, ma'am."

"Very well. Now, go; quite out of hearing." This time another girl chose to touch something, and her choice was the chain of Miss Kate's locket, that being something supposed to be beyond Miss Graham's power of suspicion: Lucy was recalled.

"Phoebe Grant has touched something." Again Lucy bowed.

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"Did she touch Mr. Gerald's eye-glass?"

"No."

"Did she touch the chain of Miss Kate's locket?"

"Yes."

"My! but she be a 'cute un!" said one of the boys.

"It's a rum go!" said another.

"Do let's try again!” said a third.

"Well, then," said Grace, "Miss Graham go again. Who wants to try?'

shall

A little shy pale-faced boy said he should; so he was allowed to touch a certain bunch of mistletoe which hung from the ceiling, quite out of his reach if two bigger boys had not helped him up to it. Then Lucy was solemnly summoned, and Grace began,

"Moses Fardell has touched something." Again that polite bow.

"Did he touch his boots?" "No."

"Did he touch Dorinda Fitch's frock?" "No."

"Did he touch the evergreens on the wall?" "No."

"Did he touch the bench?" "No."

"The arm-chair?" "No."