The picnic was a perfect success. When people are very happy there is no room for discontent in their hearts, and all the members of that party were in the highest spirits. The Cardew girls had no time yet for that period of regret which must invariably follow a period of intense excitement. They had no time yet to realize that they must part with their father and mother for the greater portion of the year. To children so intensely affectionate as Cicely and Merry such a parting must mean considerable pain. But even the beginning of the pain did not come to them on that auspicious day, and they returned to the house after the picnic in the highest good-humor. Mr. and Mrs. Tristram, however, were wise in their generation; and although Cicely and Merry begged and implored the whole party to come to the Manor for supper, they very firmly declined. It is to be regretted that both Jack and Andrew turned sulky on this occasion. As the rectory girls and Maggie and the boys and Mr. and Mrs. Tristam were all going homewards the two girls and Maggie fell behind. "Isn't this real fun? Isn't it magnificent?" said Molly Tristram. "It's a very good thing indeed for your friends Cicely and Merry," said Maggie. Then she added, "Didn't I tell you, girls, that you would win your bracelets?" Belle felt herself changing color. "We don't want them a bit--we really don't," said Molly. "Of course we don't want them," said Isabel. "You'll have them all the same," said Maggie. "They are my present to you. Surely you won't refuse my present?" "But such a very rich and handsome present we ought not to accept," said Molly. "Nonsense, girls! I shall be unhappy unless you wear them. When I return to mother--which, alas! I must do before many days are over--I shall send you the bracelets." "I wish you wouldn't, Maggie," said Belle Tristram; "for I am certain father and mother would not like us to wear jewelry while we are so young." "Well, then," said Maggie, "I will give them to you when we all meet at Aylmer House. You must take them; you know you promised you would. You will hurt me most frightfully if you don't." As Molly and Isabel certainly did not wish to hurt Maggie, they remained silent, and during the rest of the walk the three girls scarcely spoke. Meanwhile Cicely and Merry entered the Manor House and waited impatiently for the return of their father and mother. "We must get everything extra nice for them," said Cicely to her sister. "I do think it is so wonderfully splendid of them to send us to school." The sun had already set, and twilight had come on; but it would be quite impossible for Mr. and Mrs. Cardew to arrive at the Manor until about ten o'clock. What, therefore, was the amazement of the girls when they heard carriage-wheels in the distance! "Father and mother could not possibly have done their business and caught the early train," said Merry in some excitement. "Who can be coming now?"