phy shall help me. She seems a
nice handy girl, I think.'

"'Yes, ma'am,' said cook, 'I dare say she is. But of course it's
difficult to judge of a complete stranger. She's a little bit forward
for my liking--so very fond of laughing.'

"'But she's so young,' I said, 'and she's never left home before. I
think Maria's rather too strict.'

"Maria, I must tell you, was my maid, and Sophy was a young girl whom I
had chosen out of the village school to be under Maria. I called Sophy
to help me, and very proud she was to do so. We made the table look so
pretty, that even the butler condescended to admire it, and then I began
to think of adorning myself.

[Illustration]

"'You may come and help me to dress,' I said to Sophy graciously which
pleased her even more than dressing the table. I chose a white dress
and blue ribbons, for it was very hot; and when I was all ready, I
really did think I looked very nice, and I saw by Sophy's eyes that she
thought so too.

"'Oh, ma'am,' she said, 'you would just be perfect if you'd put on your
little brooch that sparkles so.'

"'My little diamond brooch,' I said doubtfully. 'It is rather too showy
for the morning.'

"But I took it out of its case and tried it, and it did look so pretty
that I was tempted to wear it, and Sophy looked very pleased.

"Our friends came and we had a most pleasant day. They were delighted
with everything--house and garden were certainly looking their best in
the lovely summer brightness. We spent most of the afternoon
out-of-doors, where I showed them everything, even down to the kitchen
garden with its tempting strawberry beds and rows of vegetables of every
kind. And when they said good-bye, my old school-fellow whispered as she
kissed me, that she thought I was a most fortunate girl. For she saw how
kind and good your dear Grandpapa was. After they had left, he proposed
that we should go a ride, as it was getting cooler. I ran up stairs and
changed my dress for my riding habit, calling to Sophy to put everything
tidy in my room. We came in just in time to dress for dinner, and the
bell sounded before I was quite ready.

"'My brooch, Sophy,' I said, 'you put away my things.'

"Sophy looked about, but no brooch was to be seen.

"'It must be there,' I said, 'find it while I am at dinner.'

"But when I ran up after dinner, Sophy met me with a very red face and
eyes that looked ready to cry, and told me it was nowhere to be found!

"I cannot tel