But even while he was singing, an energetic wave from Jean's side overturned his own small ships and left them floating bottom upwards. "Just my luck!" he remarked, as he rose. "I knew I should come to some untimely end. As Poll says, I don't believe in signs, anyway." The chocolate and wafers had been passed, and the fateful loaf of cake had been cut, bringing the ring to Florence, and the thimble, fitting symbol of single blessedness, to Jean; and still there was time for a little more of the fun. Some one suggested a game of forfeits, and a pile of them was soon collected, to be held over the head of Jessie who was chosen judge, as being the youngest girl present. Her ingenuity was endless, and she kept them laughing over her ridiculous fines, until nearly all had been redeemed. "Only two or three more," said Jean encouragingly. "Here's one of them, now." "Fine or superfine?" "Fine." "Fine? Let's see, I know whose 'tis," meditated Jessie. "Oh, I haven't any ideas left! Let him. "'Bow to the wittiest, Kneel to the prettiest, And kiss the one he loves best.'" Like most sensible mothers, Mrs. Adams had a horror of anything like kissing games; and now she frowned a little, in spite of herself. No one of the V, she felt sure, would have pronounced this fine. She turned to glance at Alan who stood for a moment, blushing as his eye moved over the group. Then he walked up to Polly and bowed low, passed on to Katharine's chair where he dropped on one knee, and then, walking straight to Mrs. Adams, he bent down and kissed her cheek with a heartiness which was not all play. She put out her hand and drew him down on the sofa, at her side. "Thank you, dear," she whispered. "It was a pretty compliment, and we old people enjoy such things, you may be sure." "It was true," said Alan simply, as he settled himself beside her with a confiding, little-boyish motion. The last forfeit had not been redeemed, when the heavy portieres swung open, and a figure swathed in dark draperies and with a veil over her face came slowly into the room. The girls gazed doubtfully at this ghostly apparition, till a brown hand--was extended and a deep voice spoke from under the veil,-- "I am here to reveal the future. To-night is the time to know the secret of your coming lives. Let the oldest advance first." Katharine, still a little in awe of the mysterious stranger, stepped forward and laid her hand on the dark one before her. The being scanned it closely. "A long life," she said, "and a happy one, for you will slowly learn the joy of doing good to those around you and forgetting yourself for others. Then, wherever you go, you will be surrounded with friends and your name will long be remembered." Katharine smiled, as she stepped back and Jean took her place. "You will have the best possession the earth can give, a contented mind. I see in the future a little house presided over by a strong, quiet woman whose life is in her home."