e could not recall it and Nora was groping in the dark.

"I'll tell you this much," said Jessica, who loved a mystery; "It just
matches a certain veil----"

"Miss Leece!" exclaimed Grace. "It's a piece of the trimming on an old
dress she sometimes wears."

"Exactly," said Jessica. "Who, having once seen it could ever forget
it?"

And so Miss Leece and Miriam had combined forces against poor little
Anne!

CHAPTER XVIII

A WINTER PICNIC

"Aunt Rose," exclaimed Tom Gray, several mornings after the Christmas
dance, "I have a scheme; but, before I ask your permission to carry it
out, I want you to grant it."

"Why do you ask it at all, then, Tom, dear?" answered his aunt.

"Because we want your seal and sanction upon the undertaking," replied
Tom, giving the old lady an affectionate squeeze. "Is it granted, little
Lady Gray?" he asked.

"I am merely groping about in the dark, my boy, but I trust to your good
sense not to ask me anything too outrageous. Tell me what it is quickly,
so that I may know exactly how deeply I am implicated."

"Well," said Tom, "here's the scheme in a nutshell. I want to give a
picnic."

Mrs. Gray groaned.

"A picnic, boy? Whoever heard of a picnic in mid-winter. What mad notion
is this?"

"But you have given your consent, aunty, and no honorable woman can go
back on her word."

"So I have, child, but explain to me quickly what a winter picnic is so
that I may know the worst at once."

"A winter picnic is a glorious tramp in the woods, with a big camp-fire
at noon, for food, warmth and rest, and then a tramp back again."

"And can I trust to you to take good care of my four girls? Anne and
Jessica are not giants for strength. You must not walk them too far, or
let them get chilled; and, if you find they are growing tired, you must
bring them straight back."

"On my word of honor, as a gentleman and a Gray, I promise," said Tom,
solemnly.

"And you will all be in before dark?" continued Mrs. Gray.

"We promise," continued the young people.

"Wear your stoutest shoes and warmest clothing," she went on.

"We promise," they cried.

"And we want a lot of lunch, aunt," said Tom coaxingly, "and some nice
raw bacon for cooking and eating purposes."

"You shall have everything you want," said Mrs. Gray, "but who will
carry the lunch?"

"We will distribute it on the backs of our four pack mules," replied
Grace. "But Hippy must carry the coffee-pot. He's not to be tru