Maggie spoke rather slowly. "Mother has one dozen bracelets in her jewelry-case. Father brought them to her in the course of his travels. Some he got in India and some in Africa. They are very valuable and exceedingly quaint, and I recall now to my memory, and can-see clearly in my mind's eye one lovely gold bracelet fashioned like a snake and with eyes of ruby, and another (which I think he must have got at Colombo) that consists of a broad gold band studded here and there with sapphires. How pretty those bracelets would look on your dear little arms, Molly and Isabel; and how glad--how very, very glad--your Maggie will be to give them to you!" "And, of course, when you do give them to us we'll be delighted to have them," said Molly and Isabel. Then Isabel laughed and said, "But what is the good of counting your chickens before they're hatched?" "I consider my chickens hatched," was Maggie's remark, "What fun we shall all have together next winter! Aneta won't have much chance against us. Yes, girls, of course I like your friends Cicely and Merry; but they'll be twice three times--the girls they are when they have been for a short time at Mrs. Ward's school." "Aren't you tired, Maggie?" was Molly's remark. "Wouldn't you like to go to bed?" "I am not a scrap tired, and I don't want to go to bed at all; but I suppose that means that you would?" "Well, I must own to feeling a little sleepy," said Molly. "And so am I," said Belle. "Girls, girls, come in; your father wants to lock up," called Mrs. Tristram at that moment. The girls all entered the house, lit their candles, and went upstairs to their rooms. As Maggie was wishing her two dear friends good-night she said quietly, "I hope you won't mind; but Merry Cardew--or, as I ought to call her, Miss Cardew--has asked me to go over to the Manor to-morrow morning in order to show me the old house. I said I'd be there at ten o'clock, and could then get back to you in time for lunch. I do trust you don't mind." "Of course we don't," said Molly in a hearty tone. "Now, good-night, Mags." "But if you think, Maggie," said Isabel, "that you will succeed in that scheme of yours you will find yourself vastly mistaken." Maggie smiled gently, and the next moment she found herself alone. She went and stood by the open window. There was a glorious full moon in the sky, and the garden, with its deep shadows and brilliant avenues of light, looked lovely. But Maggie was not thinking of the scenery. Her thoughts were busy with those ideas which were always running riot in her busy little head. She was not unamiable; she was in reality a good-hearted girl, but she was very ambitious, and she sighed, above all things for power and popularity.