"But the key was not all. To my surprise, I also drew out what you now see me holding up to view." "My ring!" cried Grace, darting forward. "O, Robin, where did you find it?" "Where I told you, in the Elizabeth chair in the parlor." [Illustration: "My ring! cried Grace."] Grace's first act was to clap her hands; her next, to rush out, calling for Phebe, who was in her own room, having a good cry. The child appeared at the head of the back stairs, and answered, in a subdued and husky voice, "What is't you want, Miss Gracie?" "I want _you_, you poor little dear," cried Grace, flying up the stairs, and hugging the disconsolate Phebe, whose wits were scattered to the four winds with surprise. "I've found my ring--my regard-ring, you forlorn little thing. Robin picked it out of the Elizabeth chair; and if you don't forgive me, I'll bite my tongue right out." "O, I've done forgive you, Miss Grace, if you'll forgive me too," sobbed poor Phebe, who had a confused idea that she must be somehow to blame for crying so hard. She had for two days been in the depths of despair; and now, this sudden turn of the wheel of fortune made her fairly dizzy with delight. Many were the choice tidbits which Phebe found beside her plate after this, and many were the snips of bright ribbon or calico which were given to her to put away among her treasures. If Grace had forgotten that "charity thinketh no evil," and had spoken rashly, she surely did all she could now to atone for her fault. CHAPTER VIII. PRUDY PARLIN. Isa Harrington's surprise was great when she saw all her artful plans overthrown, and Grace and Cassy the same "cup and saucer" as ever. "O, Gracie," said she, "you don't love Isa any more, now Cassy has come home." Grace drew coldly away. "You tried to turn me against my best friend, Isa." "O, Gracie, I never! I only told what I heard, and Lucy Lane was the one that said it. You may ask her." Lucy was as harmless a fly as ever got caught in a spider's web. Isa thought she could manage her finely. So the moment she had done talking with Grace, she made Lucy tease Miss Allen to let them both go into the recitation-room to study their lessons. "We'll promise, solemnly, we won't say a word only grammar," said Isa, earnestly. "Can't you trust us?" The teacher hesitated, looked at timid little Lucy, and said, "Yes. But if you break your word, girls, remember, 'tis the last time you'll ever go in there to study." Isa had no intention of keeping her word. She wanted to have Lucy to herself for the purpose of "managing" her. For a while the girls studied in silence, their heads close together, and covered by a shawl. "O, Lucy," said Isa, suddenly, "I've a compliment for you." Lucy put her finger on her lip. "Dear me, Lucy, didn't I speak good grammar? That's all the promise _I_ made--that I wouldn't say anything but _grammar_, and I won't, unless I make a mistake. A certain person said you had lovely hair. Got a compliment for me?"