ething of a difficulty. I was afraid
that his unfortunate surroundings during his early childhood had had a
very bad effect upon his character; but he is much improved, very much
improved indeed. You think something may be made of him?'

'I think he is the sort of stuff that heroes are made of,' said the
captain thoughtfully, 'and he has such influence about him now as makes
heroes.'

Mr. Crayshaw glanced at the three in front of him and coughed in an
embarrassed way.

'Angelica is--is a very good girl,' he said; 'indeed they are both very
good girls, very good girls. I had my doubts as to the desirability of
leaving Godfrey under their charge, but I feel satisfied now that at
present I could hardly do better for him.'

'I think he is having such training as will bless his whole life,' said
Captain Maitland gravely, and Mr. Crayshaw did not contradict him.
Perhaps a thought came over him that if he had had a gentle Angelica
and a bright, loving Betty beside him when he was young, his life might
have been a better and a more beautiful thing.

An invitation to dinner was such a rare thing at Oakfield that there
was a good deal of excitement about getting ready for it. Penny and
Angel and Betty all brushed Godfrey's hair in turn, until he was
thankful to escape and leave his aunts to get dressed on their own
account. But he very soon came rushing upstairs again two steps at a
time, and asked eagerly at their door if he might come in.

'Aunt Angel, Aunt Betty, look!' he exclaimed as he burst into the room,
'presents, from Cousin Crayshaw. Oh, do look!--A seal, a real proper
seal that belonged to grandpapa, with words on, that makes a mark when
you hold it down on your hand hard. And this box has got things in for
you; he said so. He was so funny, and he said it so fast I didn't hear
it all; but he said I was to give it to you, Aunt Angel, because it was
yours really, and perhaps it would help you to remember some things
that were past and to forget some others. What did he mean? Only open
it, do open it!'

So Angel opened the box, with Betty looking over her shoulder and
peering between her falling curls, and Penny peeping over her. And it
was Penny who was the first to exclaim, while she hugged both her young
ladies in her delight:

'Oh, bless you, my dears, they're your dear mamma's jewels! Dear,
dear! and don't I know 'em if any one does, me that put them on her
times enough.'

'Mamma's things! O