s; 'it's very nice making a collection, and I've got a nice
pail with a lid that I'll give you to keep the things in.'

'And now,' said Mrs. Stewart, 'I see the pony cart coming up the drive,
with Mrs. MacGregor in it; run and get ready, girls, or we shall be
late.'

After about a quarter of an hour's tidying, Marjorie was released from
her mother's hands, dressed in a cream serge frock and a large hat, and
with her hair brushed out and neatly arranged.

Feeling unlike herself and hardly satisfied with the change, she peeped
in the glass as soon as her mother's back was turned.

Her own reflection caused her to start and colour with surprise.

Blue eyes, bright with suppressed excitement, a wild rose face framed
in short fair curls and set off by the light colours of her attire,
slender hands and neat ankles--'and that's me,' said Marjorie to
herself in bewilderment.

Tricksy came into the room, wearing a white hanging frock with a big
floppy white hat.

'Dear me,' said Marjorie to herself, taking another glance in the
mirror, after the eyes of the two girls had met in silent approval of
one another; 'curious that we've never thought of it before--perhaps
it's because we so seldom have bothered to look in the glass--but it
strikes me that we're actually a pair of very pretty girls--with our
hair brushed and our faces washed!'

They went downstairs without speaking, and encountered the boys in the
hall.

All eyes were attracted to them; then an approving expression came into
the boys' faces, and as the girls passed they moved somewhat aside to
look at them from another point of view.

Despite the anxiety which had brooded over her since morning, Marjorie
began to feel her spirits rise.

'Marjorie,' said Tricksy solemnly, as Duncan was driving them to the
landing-stage, 'which do you think is the best fun, being a boy or
being a girl?'

Marjorie had been lost in thought, but at Tricksy's question her eyes
began to dance.

'I think it's best of all to be a tomboy,' she said, 'and then you can
be a bit of both!'

When the sailors had shipped their oars, and the boat glided under the
side of the great war-vessel, first the ladies, and then the girls were
assisted on deck and greeted by the captain, erect and
broad-shouldered, and by the officers, the youngest of whom was
Tricksy's friend of the year before. Dr. MacGregor and the laird and
Mr. Graham were already on board.

'Hullo, Miss Tricksy, how do y