"Call me Precious," said the girl sweetly. "Thank you, I will; but is that your real name? I never heard of any one named Precious." "My real name is Pearl; but my mamma called me Precious Pearl so much that it became shortened at last to Precious." "And my name is Lulu, but my dear mamma died soon after I was born, and then papa could not bear to hear that name spoken, because it had been hers. So they began with Ladybird when I was little, and it has been my name ever since, so I will call you Precious if you will call me Ladybird." "Very well. And now, Ladybird, you will tell me how you came to fall in the water." She saw the hazel eyes flash with laughter, and Ladybird cried: "Oh, Precious, will you keep it secret? Will you never, never tell?" "Never!" answered Precious promptly, and then her guest said gayly: "I was in a little row-boat on the river, and I fell into the water. They all thought it was an accident, but--you're never to tell any one, you know--I did it purposely. I fell in for them to jump in and rescue me." "But why?" queried Precious, with astonished blue eyes. "I will tell you," answered the little madcap, with a silvery peal of laughter. "I have several lovers, Precious, and I wanted to test their love. I thought the one that loved me best would jump in after me." "And did he, Ladybird?" "They _all_ jumped, Precious!" "All? How many?" "Twelve," answered Ladybird, with a little _moue_ of actual disgust. Then the astonishment of the other girl's face moved her to mocking laughter. "You darling girl! how surprised you look! But I don't blame you. It was very silly for them all to jump in after me! I shall never forget when I lay on the bank after I was rescued, how funny they all looked in their wet clothes, as they crowded around me!" and she laughed ungratefully. "But--_twelve_ lovers!--I never heard of a girl having so many!" and the younger girl's eyes dilated with wonder. "Did you never have a lover, Precious?" "No--I am too young--only sixteen," and Precious blushed at the very thought of a lover. "I am only seventeen, and I have a dozen. I thought I had thirteen, but when I tested them there were but twelve," cried Ladybird, tossing her dainty head with decided pique. "Did--my--brother--jump in the water after you?" cried Precious quickly. "No, indeed--he was not a hero like the others," and Ladybird curled a disdainful lip. "Do you like heroes, Ladybird?" "I adore them! If I ever marry any one, he must be brave and grand. I couldn't love a coward!" "I admire heroes too," cried Precious, her cheek glowing with sudden warmth, her violet eyes shining; and then Ladybird cried eagerly: "You must admire Lord Chester very much, dear, for I read in the papers how he rescued you from a burning house. It was grand, was it not? and I suppose you will be sure to marry him some day, for that is the way it always turns out in novels."