"Yes, Horace Clifford," said Grace, loftily, "I do despise to see anyone so secret and mysterious." "I wonders we didn't think he was whittling sticks some-place," said Barbara, glancing admiringly at Horace. "Well, now you know," said the boy, fidgeting. "You've found me, and I wasn't lost; now can't you go off?" "Pretty talk to your ma," cried Grace. "O, ma, I don't mean you. But I just don't want anybody to see this thing I'm making till it's plum done." "Plum done!" repeated Grace; "where did you pick up such droll words? and why will you twist your mouth so, Horace?" The boy threw down his jackknife with a jerk of despair. "There, now, can't you go away?--I mean you and Barby. 'Tisn't fair play. This is my own shop-room, and my pa said I could keep my tool-chest in it, and there shouldn't anybody--" But Horace found himself talking to empty air, for his visitors had disappeared. He unrolled his leather apron, removed the bit of straw matting from sundry boards, and gazed at them fondly, muttering, "Too good for Gracie, now, isn't it, when she blows me up so?" But for all that, he set to work again till it was so dark that he could not see to guide his jackknife; when he went downstairs, declaring--to use his own words--that he "was hungry enough to eat ginger." Phebe, the little colored girl, who, during all the excitement about Horace, had been obliged to stay in the nursery with the baby, was glad now to wash dishes for Barbara, and pour into her ears complaints of wee Katie, who was, she said, "a right cross one--as cross as two hundred sticks." Barbara listened in indignant silence, only asking at last, "What for a baby would she be now, if she goes to cut her teeth and doesn't cry?" "Bravo! Chalk Eyes," cried Horace, suddenly rushing out upon Phebe, "none of your grumbling." "O, Horace," whispered Grace, reprovingly, "hush saying Chalk Eyes. Haven't you any feeling for poor _discolored_ creatures? "Poh, Gracie! _Niggroes_ don't feel any worse than we do. Come, let's play catch." They played till they were called into the parlor to learn their Sabbath school lessons. Grace's last waking thought was about the new society. Who knew but they might some day build a little asylum for poor children? People would wonder and admire. Well, nobody should know a word about it yet,--not for a year and a day. Just as if girls couldn't keep secrets! And Grace at last dropped to sleep with her finger on her lip. CHAPTER III. THE PRIZE. The princesses quite enjoyed their stolen meetings and their mysterious signs. O, how little the world suspected that they were keeping weighty secrets! So surprised as the world would be if the princesses only had a mind to tell! It was evident that Isabel was more interested as soon as Cassy Hallock had gone away to Kentucky. Then there was no rivalry, for Isa was sure that she stood next to Cassy in Grace Clifford's esteem.