ound her fiddling so among the books on the
schoolroom table this morning."

"Trying to put them neat, I suppose--not very easy, judging by the state
they were left in last night," said Grandmamma. "Linda, my dear, you
must not let yourself grow suspicious. I am sure the girl is perfectly
honest. I know all about her."

"But where can my scissors be, then?" said Linda. "They're not
alive--they can't walk away by themselves."

"Sit down beside me for a few minutes and get cooler about it," said
Grandmamma. "Something may come to your mind in a while to throw light
on the disappearance. But never suspect others of anything so dreadful
as even small thefts unless you are _forced_ to do so. I will tell you a
little story which has often served as a warning to me in such a case."

"Oh, yes, do please, Grandmamma," said Linda, the clouds clearing off
her face in a wonderful way.

"Years and years ago when I was young, only lately married," began
Grandmamma, "a curious thing happened to me. We were living in the
country--it was lovely summer weather, and numbers of our friends used
to drive over to see us and spend the day. My house was pretty, and I
was very proud of it; I had lots of pretty things of all kinds--my
wedding presents in fact--with which to adorn both it and myself, and
sometimes your Grandpapa used to laugh at me, and call me a little
peacock. One of my prettiest ornaments was a small diamond
brooch--shaped like a star. It was really meant to wear in the evening,
but I was so fond of it, that I sometimes wore it in the daytime. One
morning I got a letter to say that an old school-friend of mine was
staying in the neighbourhood, and that she and her husband were coming
over to spend the day with us. I was very pleased to hear it, and so was
your Grandpapa, as he too knew these friends of mine.

[Illustration]

"I hurried over my breakfast, and ran away to give orders to have
everything very nice for them, and I think the old cook, who knew a
great deal more about luncheons and dinners than I did, was rather
amused at all my charges.

"'It shall all be as nice as can be, Miss Lucy,' she said. She was
always forgetting I was married, and calling me 'Miss Lucy'--'You shall
see--it shall all be just as nice as it used to be at your dear Mamma's.
I'm only sorry that Maria should be away to-day, she has so much taste
in arranging the fruit and flowers for the table.'

"'I'll do them myself,' I said, 'and So