"I have a little Frenchwoman who'll do it in half the time, and with a thousandfold the wit. Put it up in a parcel with an old frock of Esther's, and throw it into my phaeton. There, my dear," impatiently, as Aline hesitated, "don't be too proud with the oldest friend you have in the world! There's a virtue in receiving as well as in giving." So Aline yielded the point, and went off to find her silk. I wasn't quite satisfied about the silk myself, though it was a lovely bit of old gray silk gauze, powdered with violets. But gray is just the one colour that spoils Esther's looks; and then the garnets with those violets! However, we can't have everything. I shall never forget Esther's face of joy when she came timidly to ask if I would lend her my sapphires, and I put the garnets into her hands, and told her they were her own. The day of the ball Lady O'Brien sent over the phaeton for Esther with a note saying that if I would come over to dine and help her to dress, they would drop me at Brandon on the way back. Now it was an ideal arrangement, for we were all anxious to see Esther dressed for the ball, and more especially the twins, for those little girls have a most amazing taste for finery, especially considering that they have hardly ever seen any. When we arrived at Annagower, we found, instead of dinner, one of Lady O'Brien's delightful high teas, which was much more to our taste. "I know girls always think dinner a dull meal," said our hostess. "It is only as they grow older that they discover how much consolation is to be found in it." I noticed that the old lady looked a little excited, and I guessed that Esther was to be introduced to the pink room that evening, and I was right. Towards the end of the meal, to which I did justice if Esther did not, Lady O'Brien left us, saying that she would have Martha's services first, and that when Esther rang, Martha would come and do her hair. "But where am I to dress?" asked Esther. "Hilda will show you the way to your room, my dear," said the old lady, going off rather hurriedly, as if to avoid any more questions. Just as we had finished tea, the fat page-boy came in with a little covered dish, and set it before Esther. "Her ladyship's love," he said, with a grin, "and she hopes Miss Esther will like the dish." He whipped the lid off in a hurry, and there was a key with a little label to it. "What is this?" asked Esther wonderingly. "Better read the label," said I. She read aloud, The key of Esther's room, with her god-mothers love; but looked as mystified as before. "Never mind," I said, "come and see the room; I know the way,"--and off we went, to the disappointment of the page-boy, who would fain have seen the end of the affair. I took a lighted candle from the hall-table and led the way upstairs. When we came to the door we found it locked, but Esther opened it with her key.