She
had always cherished a secret regret that she had been born a girl.

"Thank you, David," she said, blushing, then hastily changed the subject.
"Tell me about your aeroplane. Is it still at the old Omnibus House?"

"Yes," David answered. "I had it here all winter, but I moved it out there
again about a month ago."

"I should like to see it again," said Grace. "I didn't have time to look
at it carefully the day you invited us out there."

"I'll take you over any time you want to go," said David. "Oh, better
still, here's a duplicate key to the place. You can take the girls and go
over there whenever you please, without waiting for me. You are the only
person that I'd trust with this key, Grace," he added gravely. "I had it
made in case old Jean or I should lose those we carry. I wouldn't even let
the fellows have one, for fear they might go over there, get careless and
do some damage."

"It's awfully good of you, David," Grace replied as she took the key.
"I'll be careful not to lose it. I'll put it on my watch chain. It's such
a small key it is not likely it will be noticed."

Grace took from her neck the long, silver chain from which her watch was
suspended. She opened the clasp, slid the key on the chain and tucked both
watch and key snugly into her belt.

"There," she said, patting it, "that can't get lost. My chain is very
strong. I prefer a chain to a pin or fob, because either one is so easy to
lose."

"That's sensible," commented David. "Girls wouldn't be eternally losing
their watches if they weren't so vain about wearing those silly little
chatelaine pins."

"Why, David Nesbit!" exclaimed Grace, glancing up at the mission clock on
the wall. "It's almost nine o'clock! I had no idea it was so late. Let's
go down at once."

They returned to the parlor to find Anne and Miriam deep in some foreign
photographs that Miriam had collected during her trip to Europe the
previous summer.

"How I should love to see Europe," sighed Anne. "I'm going there some day,
though, if I live," she added with a sudden resolution.

"Mother and father have promised me a trip across as a graduation gift.
Maybe you'll be able to go, too, by that time, Anne," said Grace
hopefully.

"Perhaps I shall, but I'm afraid it's doubtful," said Anne, smiling a
little.

"We've had a fine time, Miriam," said Grace, "but we really must go.
Mother will worry if I stay any later."

"Please come again soon," said Miriam, kissing bot