cried Mellicent the irrepressible. "Who took the
little blue jug off my mantelpiece? Who took the brass candlestick from
the hall? Who took the pictures from the schoolroom? Who took the
toilet-cover that she said I might have, and left me with nothing but
two horrid mats? You _did_, you know you did, and it is not a bit of
use giving yourself airs!"

Evidently not. Esther hung her head, and admitted the impeachment.
Well, she _had_ thought that it would be nice to have her own things--it
_did_ seem wise to collect them at once, before she grew too busy! It
was very, very kind of Arthur, and she was truly grateful. Should she
open the parcel now?

"Of course you must! Your first present! It is quite an event, and
just what I should have expected, that it should come from Arthur. Dear
lad, always so thoughtful!" murmured Mrs Asplin fondly. "Open it on
the table, and we will sit round and watch. Come, Miss Rollo, sit by
me. Perhaps you are in the secret already, and know what it is?"

"No, we don't know. We inquired, but he wouldn't tell us anything about
it."

"But it's probably salt-cellars! Men have so little imagination. They
always take refuge in salt-cellars!"

This from Peggy, while Esther looked polite and murmured:

"Most useful, I'm sure. Nothing more so!" and Mellicent grimaced
vigorously.

"Uninteresting, I call it! Now joolery is far nicer. I wish it were
joolery, but I'm afraid it's too big. Open it, do! Cut the string, and
don't fumble all day at one knot! The professor will buy you some more,
if you ask him nicely."

"Mellicent!" cried Esther deeply; but she cut the string as desired,
laid back the wrappings, and took up a small tissue paper parcel.

"Just a small trifle. Something useful for the bottom drawer!" murmured
Arthur modestly, and the next moment the parcel fell on the table with a
crash, while every one shrieked in chorus. Something had gone off with
a bang, something fell out of its wrappings and clattered wood against
wood. A mouse-trap! A little, penny mouse-trap of plainest, commonest
description! They could hardly believe their eyes--could do nothing but
exclaim, gasp, and upbraid at one and the same moment.

"You _said_ it was a wedding present!"

"I never did. It was you who said that. I said `something useful for
the bottom drawer.' I hope, dear Esther, that you may find it very,
very useful."

"You mean creature! I hope it may be nothing o