'Aunty,' Molly said, 'don't you think uncle might have given the will to Mr. Sheldon to take to Mr. Bates, and he may have put it in the secret place and forgotten?' 'What a head the child's got--full of fancies!' said Aunt Maria. 'If he slept in that room--did he ever sleep in that room?' 'Always, whenever he stayed here.' 'Was it long after the will-signing that poor Mr. Sheldon died?' 'Ten days,' said Aunt Maria shortly; 'run away and play. I've letters to write.' But because it seemed good to leave no stone unturned, one of those letters was to a cabinet-maker in Rochester, and the groom took it in the dog-cart, and the cabinet-maker came back with him. And there _was_ a secret hiding-place behind the looking-glass in the little red lacquered cupboard in the old black and red and gold cabinet, and in that secret hiding-place was the missing will, and on it lay a brown flower that dropped to dust when it was moved. 'It's a Christmas rose,' said Molly. * * * * * 'So, you see, really it was a very good thing the others pretended to have measles, because if they hadn't I shouldn't have come to you, and if I hadn't come I shouldn't have known there was a will missing, and if I hadn't known that I shouldn't have found it, should I, aunty, should I, uncle?' said Molly, wild with delight. 'No, dear,' said Aunt Maria, patting her hand. 'Little girls,' said Uncle Toodlethwaite, 'should be seen and not heard. But I admit that simulated measles may sometimes be a blessing in disguise.' All the young Carruthers thought so when they got the five pounds that Aunt Maria sent them. Miss Simpshall got five pounds too because it was owing to her that Molly was taken to the White House that day. Molly got a little pearl necklace as well as five pounds. 'Mr. Sheldon gave it to me,' said Aunt Maria. 'I wouldn't give it to anyone but you.' Molly hugged her in silent rapture. That just shows how different our Aunt Marias would prove to be if they would only let us know them as they really are. It really is not wise to conceal _everything_ from children. You see, if Aunt Maria had not told Molly about Mr. Sheldon, she would never have thought about him enough to see his ghost. Now Molly is grown up she tells me it was only a dream. But even if it was it is just as wonderful, and served the purpose just as well. Perhaps you would like to know what Aunt Maria said when the cabinet-maker opened the secret hiding-place and she saw the paper with the brown Christmas rose on it? Clements was there, as well as the cabinet-maker and Molly. She said right out before them all, 'Oh, James, my dear!' and she picked up the flower before she opened the will. And it fell into brown dust in her hand. BILLY AND WILLIAM A HISTORICAL TALE FOR THE YOUNG '_Have you found your prize essay?_' '_No; but I have found the bicycle of the butcher's boy._'