"Dear little Sophie, how good you are!" and warm-hearted Fan kissed the blooming face that needed no roses to make it sweet and gay. Half an hour later, twenty girls and boys were dancing round the brilliant tree. Then its boughs were stripped. Every one seemed contented; even Sophie’s little gifts gave pleasure, because with each went a merry or affectionate verse, which made great fun on being read aloud. She was quite loaded with pretty things, and had no words to express her gratitude and pleasure. "Ah, you are all so good to me! and I have nothing beautiful for you. I receive much and give little, but I cannot help it! Wait a little and I will redeem myself," she said to Fanny, with eyes full of tears, and a lap heaped with gay and useful things. "Never mind that now; but look at this, for here’s still another offering of friendship, and a very charming one, to judge by the outside," answered Fan, bringing the white box with the sea-weed ornaments. Sophie opened it, and cries of admiration followed, for lying on the soft cotton was a lovely set of coral. Rosy pink branches, highly polished and fastened with gold clasps, formed necklace, bracelets, and a spray for the bosom. No note or card appeared, and the girls crowded round to admire and wonder who could have sent so valuable a gift. "Can’t you guess, Sophie?" cried Dora, longing to own the pretty things. "I should believe I knew, but it is too costly. How came the parcel, Fan? I think you must know all," and Sophie turned the box about, searching vainly for a name. "An expressman left it, and Jane took off the wet paper and put it on my table with the other things. Here’s the wrapper; do you know that writing?" and Fan offered the brown paper which she had kept. "No; and the label is all mud, so I cannot see the place. Ah, well, I shall discover some day, but I should like to thank this generous friend at once. See now, how fine I am! I do myself the honor to wear them at once." Smiling with girlish delight at her pretty ornaments, Sophie clasped the bracelets on her round arms, the necklace about her white throat, and set the rosy spray in the lace on her bosom. Then she took a little dance down the room and found herself before Di, who was looking at her with an expression of naughty satisfaction on her face. "Don’t you wish you knew who sent them?" "Indeed, yes;" and Sophie paused abruptly. "Well, _I_ know, and _I_ won’t tell till I like. It’s my turn to have a secret; and I mean to keep it." "But it is not right," began Sophie, with indignation. "Tell me yours, and I ’ll tell mine," said Di, teasingly. "I will not! You have no right to touch my gifts, and I am sure you have done it, else how know you who sends this fine _cadeau_?" cried Sophie, with the flash Di liked to see.