rs red as she held it out
to Anastasia's astonished gaze.

"I guess it's this that has been bleeding inside the tank and has
stained the water," she explained.

"But, Signorina, I ask how it place itself there?" demanded the still
puzzled chambermaid in her halting English, then mother-wit
overmastering native superstition, she burst into laughter. "Oh! Oh! Oh!
It is no magic but you, Signorina. Who hid my towels? I go to tell Mees
Rodgers. Yes! You shall get into very big scrape!"

"No, Anastasia, don't tell," implored Peachy. "It was only a joke. Look
here! Are you fond of chocolates? I had a box sent me yesterday, and you
shall have them all. It won't do any good to tell Miss Rodgers, will
it?"

"You not come on to this roof again and touch my towels?" conceded
Anastasia doubtfully.

"Never! I promise faithfully."

"Then I not tell."

"Good! You're a white angel. I'll square the girls and get them not to
mind washing in pink water for a day or two. It ought to improve their
complexions. So we'll just say nothing at all about it at headquarters.
That's settled. Anastasia, your English is improving wonderfully; I
guess I'll teach you some American next--it's the finest language in the
world. Botheration, I've soused Callie's butterfly-net. I don't know
what she'll say about it. I'm out of one scrape into another the whole
time. Well, I'd rather face Callie than Miss Rodgers anyhow. She may
storm, but she can't give me bad marks or stop my next exeat. Come
along, Anastasia. We'll take the ribbon with us to show as a trophy. It
will give them a little bit of a surprise downstairs if I'm not
mistaken."

Owing to luck, and to the kindness of Anastasia, Peachy's pranks did
not on this occasion meet with any punishment. Irene, who had been
greatly fearing an exposure of the whole escapade, once more breathed
freely. If the matter had come to the ears of Miss Rodgers the three
girls would certainly have been "gated," and Irene was particularly
anxious not to lose her approaching exeat. It was her turn to go to tea
at the Villa Bleue, and she was looking forward greatly to the occasion.
It would be her first visit, for she had forfeited her privilege earlier
in the term, when she and Lorna lost themselves among the olive groves.
Much to their satisfaction the buddies were invited together, in company
with Mary, Sheila, Monica, and Winnie, who were also on the good conduct
list. Of course there was considerable prink