"Oh Aneta! for you I would do anything. But how did you manage to get my dreadful stepfather to give up his plan." "That matters little. He has given it up. Now, come. There's much to do to prepare for to-morrow; but you must get your confession over first." Mrs. Ward always had her tea alone, and she was just finishing it on this special evening when there came a tap at her door, and, to her great amazement, Aneta and Maggie entered, holding each other's hands. "Mrs. Ward, Maggie has something to say to you." "Yes," said Maggie; and then in a few broken words, choked by tears of true repentance, she told her story. She had been ashamed of her stepfather. She had been deceitful. She had been afraid to confess that she was taken at a lower fee than the other girls at the school. She had gone out, without leave, to sell one of her own father's treasures. Everything was told. Mrs. Ward looked very grave as the girl, with bent head, related the story of her deceit and wrong-doing. "I know you can expel me," said Maggie. "But you will not," said Aneta. "I feel sure of that, for I, who never cared for Maggie until now, love her with all my heart. There will be no rivalry in the school any more, and dear Maggie must not go." "Oh, if you would keep me! If you would keep me," said Maggie, "and give me one more chance!" "Have you asked God to forgive you, Maggie?" said Mrs. Ward. "I cannot, somehow; my heart is so cold. But if--if you would"---- "We will ask Him together," said Mrs. Ward. There and then she knelt down, and Aneta and Maggie knelt at each side of her, and she said a few words of prayer which touched Maggie's heart as no words had ever touched it before. "Keep from her all hurtful things, and give her those things which are necessary for her salvation," pleaded the mistress. Suddenly Mrs. Ward's hand was taken by Maggie and covered with kisses. "Oh, I will try!" she said; "I will try hard to be really good! And," she added, "I will take any punishment you give me." Mrs. Ward looked at her with sparkling eyes. She was a very keen observer of character. She put her hand under the girl's chin and looked into her downcast face. "My dear," she said, "full and absolute forgiveness means the doing away with punishment. You have suffered sorely; I will not add to your suffering in any way. Now, go and prepare for to-morrow's entertainment.--Aneta, you will stay with me for a few minutes." Maggie left the room, but in a short time she returned. She carried in her arms the two tin boxes which contained her father's treasures. "I want you to keep these for me, or to sell them, or to do what you like with them," said Maggie. She then immediately left the room. Mrs. Ward and Aneta bent over the treasures. Mrs. Ward gave a start of great surprise when she saw them. "Why, these," she said, "are a fortune in themselves." "I thought so," said Aneta, her eyes sparkling. "I felt sure of it. We must get that brooch back from Pearce."