Softly she crept from her bed, and made her way across the floor to the dressing-case. She put the box upon the floor, and pushed it well under it, and wholly out of sight. "There!" she whispered. "That's all right. I would have finished the candy, but I didn't want the whole of it. I ate the best of it. The others weren't very nice." Down in the long parlor the guests were no longer dancing. They were resting, and listening to a lovely barcarolle played softly by the orchestra. Flossie, clinging to Uncle Harry's hand, drew him toward the window. "Look!" she said, as she parted the curtains. "It isn't raining now, and the moon is coming out. It will be pleasant to-morrow! And it has been lovely in here to-night." "Dear little Flossie, dear little niece, it was your cheery, loving nature that led us to give your name to our baby. She has two fine names, she is Beatrice Florence. The first is Vera's mother's name, the second, dear, is yours." CHAPTER IV IN A BIRCH ARBOR THE storm had cleared the air, no mist veiled the mountains, the sunlight lay everywhere, gilding valley and stream. Many of the guests had started early in the morning for a trip to a distant mountain from the summit of which a delightful view might be enjoyed. They were to ride over in the barge to the base of the mountain, have a picnic lunch under the trees, and then climb the rugged path up the mountain side. It would occupy half the day and it would be afternoon before the barge would return with its merry, tired party. Floretta Paxton and Jack Tiverton were usually in sight, or, as they were always noisy, within hearing might be nearer the truth, but they had gone over to a spot that the children called "The Pool," a bit of water not much larger than a big puddle. It existed only after a heavy rain, but near its edge the slender birches grew, and their silvery white trunks and the bright, blue sky were clearly reflected on its surface. Jack had decided to launch his toy boat there, and, as Floretta had hemmed the tiny sails, he had felt obliged to listen to her coaxing, and permit her to go with him. "I'll let you christen her," he had said, in a moment of generosity, and then regretted it. Floretta's idea of a christening ceremony was very elaborate, while Jack thought that shouting the vessel's name, and shoving it into the water was all that was necessary. Nancy was helping Aunt Charlotte, so when Dorothy ran out to the piazza, she found it deserted, and she stood looking in surprise at the rocking chairs and hammocks that were swaying in the wind. "Every one has gone somewhere," she thought; "didn't any one stay at home?" She stood for a moment in the doorway, wondering what to do. Suddenly her face brightened, and she clapped her hands. "The very thing!" she said, and she turned and hastened to her room to find her latest gift.