ar heavier
than bread and cheese. I can open it, can't I? Just to make sure!"

"Oh, certainly, if you like--" assented Mrs Percival dubiously, and
Darsie waited for no further permission, but promptly knelt down on the
grass and set to work to untie the knotted ends of the checked
handkerchief. The surrounding guests gathered around in a laughing
circle, being in the gay and gratified frame of mind when any
distraction is met halfway, and ensured of a favourable reception. What
was this pretty girl about? What joke was hidden away in this
commonplace-looking bundle?

The knot was strongly tied, but Darsie's fingers were strong also and in
a minute's time it was undone, and the corners of the handkerchief
dropped on the grass to reveal an inner bag of thick grey linen tied
again round the mouth.

"It _is_ lumpy!" repeated Darsie again; then with a tug the string came
loose, and lifting the bag in her hands, she rained its contents over
the grass.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Was it a dream? Was it some fantasy of imagination--some wonderful
effect of sunshine shining upon hundreds and hundreds of dewdrops, and
turning them into scintillating balls of light, catching reflections
from the flowers in yonder beds, and sending dancing rays of red, blue,
and green across the grass? Red and blue and green the rainbow drops
gleamed upon the ground, vivid and clear as the loveliest among the
blossoms, but possessed of a radiance which no earth flower had
inherited before.

Darsie sat back on her heels, her arms, falling slack by her sides, her
wide eyes fixed on the ground in a surprise too complete for speech.
Nobody spoke; the stupor in her own brain must surely have communicated
itself to the guests crowding around, for while one might have counted
fifty there was blank, utter silence upon the lawn. Then suddenly came
a dramatic interruption; a cry, almost a scream, in a high, feminine
voice, and a tall, fashionably dressed woman grasped wildly at a
dangling chain of stones.

"My rubies! My rubies! My beautiful, beautiful rubies! Found again!
_Safe_! Oh, my rubies!" She burst into excited sobs, a gentleman came
forward and led her gently aside, but her place was immediately taken by
other women--white-faced, eager, trembling with anxiety.

"Oh! Oh-h--let me look! It's the jewels, the lost jewels-- Are my
diamonds among them? Do you see a diamond necklace w