her decision she never knew it.

The note went by the morning's mail. Its answer came in two days.

_My dear Nita_
You are a witch fit for the hanging! How did you
know--how could you guess!--I was going to send
you some of our Pink Ramblers? Only they are not
quite blossomed out enough yet. When they are you
shall have more than you can hold in your two small
hands! But to thank me for them ahead of time! It
is just like you! You always were a witch! Why don't
you come to see me? I should have been up last visiting
day only that the house was full of workmen, and
Isabel had engagements, and somebody must stay--I
was the somebody!--A visitor! Too bad! Love--
GEORGIANA.

Before the pink roses had lost a petal another box was brought to
Miss Sterling's door. Her fingers quivered with hope as she untied
the ribbon. The address was in the same firm, open hand. A
shimmer of gold met her first glance, but the scrap of white she
had longed for was missing. Without doubt the pilferer had
thwarted her again. She put the yellow beauties into water with
half-hearted pleasure. Why couldn't Miss Sniffen let her have her
own! She pounded the air with her little impotent fists. She did
not go down to tea. Unhappiness and worry are not appetizers.

The next morning it was whispered from room to room that the second
card had been filched from Miss Sterling's box of roses. Miss
Castlevaine loved so well the transmitting of newsy tidbits, that
they were not apt to remain long in one quarter.

"I'd do something about it!" she declared to Miss Major. "It has
come to a pretty pass if our belongings have to be tampered with
before we even are allowed to see them! I think somebody ought to
tell the president."

The incident, however, passed with talk, nobody being willing to
risk her residence in behalf of Juanita Sterling.

When Polly Dudley heard of it she waxed wrathful.

"I never liked Miss Sniffen," she declared, "and now I just hate
her!"

"Polly!" remonstrated Miss Sterling.

"I don't care, I do! I wish mother was on the Board, then I 'd try
to make her say something! What business has Miss Sniffen to open
your boxes, anyhow? I almost know they came from Mr. Randolph, and
that's why she's mad about it!"

"Polly, I hope you won't say that to anybody else. You've no more
reason to think he sent them than you have to think King