Forest is very kind to her. Mother, darling, there is going to be a
great big party on the fifteenth, Nan's birthday, and Hester and
Nora and Annie and I are very anxious that it should be a
children's ball--a fancy ball, you know, mother, and that it should
be held in our beautiful old ball-room. It is the Thorntons' party,
and they will go to all the expense, but they haven't a big room
like ours, so I thought we might lend them the big hall and the
drawing-rooms and the ball-room, and they are beginning
preparations already. If by any chance you or father object, will
you send me a telegram to-morrow? I wish I could kiss you
good-night.--Your most loving

"MOLLY."

Molly's letter was also directed and stamped, and when these important
epistles had been taken to the post, the whole household went to bed.

That is, with one exception.

Annie Forest, notwithstanding her gaiety and the high spirits she had
been in all day, had a care upon her mind.

It was three weeks now since the day when Mrs. Martin had pawned Mrs.
Willis's beautiful ring for the small sum of thirty shillings. That
thirty shillings had purchased cambric and embroidery and lace, and even
a few knots of coloured ribbon, to make three charming frocks for Nora
Lorrimer, but alack and alas, though the frocks lay neatly folded up in
their drawer waiting to be worn on the first festive occasion, poor
Annie had not the faintest idea how to get back the ring. That morning's
post had certainly been an important one. It had not only brought a
letter for Hester which had nearly turned the heads of two households,
but had brought Annie two epistles of a profoundly and painfully
interesting character. One was from her father, telling her that he must
postpone sending her her usual birthday present for a time, and the
other was from Mrs. Willis herself. Mrs. Willis wrote from Paris. She
was staying there for a short time on her way home, and asked Annie to
send her the diamond ring without delay by registered post. The ring was
of a very antique pattern and she wished to have it copied for a wedding
present for one of her pupils.

"Try and post it to me at once, dear," she said, "for I shall not
be in Paris after Saturday. I return to London that day and shall
very likely accept Hester Thornton's invitation to come to the
Grange for a few days. You shall then