ot
return. Melisande began to weep, as usual, but Percival only laughed,
for he had dropped a pearl every little way as they entered the wood,
and the children found their way home without the least difficulty.
Their father was vexed by their cleverness, but their mamma smiled.

"It's fate, Reginald," she remarked. "They were born for the smart set,
and they may as well fulfill their destinies."

"Let us try once more," said the gentleman. "Give them another chance."

When the servant called the children the next morning Percival ran to
get another pearl necklace, but the jewel cellar was locked, and the
best he could do was to conceal a four-pound bunch of hothouse grapes
under his jacket. This time they were taken twice as far into the wood
in search of the diamond mine; and alas! when the butler deserted them
Percival found that the birds had eaten every grape he had dropped along
the way. They were now really lost, and wandered all day without coming
out anywhere, and at night they slept on a pile of leaves, which
Percival said was much more like camping out than their summer in the
Adirondacks. All next day they wandered, without seeing sign of a road
or a chateau, and Melisande wept bitterly.

"I am so hungry," exclaimed the poor child. "If we only could get a few
_marrons glaces_ for breakfast!"

"I could eat a few macaroons myself," said Percival.

III

On the afternoon of the third day Percival and Melisande came to a
strange little cottage fashioned of gingerbread, but as the children had
never tasted anything so common as gingerbread they did not recognize
it. However, the cottage felt soft and looked pretty enough to eat, so
Percival bit off a piece of the roof and declared it was fine. Melisande
helped herself to the doorknob, and the children might have eaten half
the cottage had not a witch who lived in it come out and frightened them
away. The children ran as fast as their legs could work, for the witch
looked exactly like their governess, who tried to make them learn to
spell and do other disagreeable tasks.

Presently they came out on a road and saw a big red automobile belonging
to nobody in particular. It was the most beautiful car imaginable. The
hubs were set with pigeon blood rubies and the spokes with brilliants;
the tires were set with garnets to prevent skidding, and the hood was
inlaid with diamonds and emeralds. Even Percival and Melisande were
impressed. One door stood invitingly