the
story.

"Ruth seemed more pleased about the fairies than she did to get the
candy back," he concluded, "and I don't think there is any harm in
fairies, do you?"

"Why, no, Gilbert! I am always hoping that they really are true,"
replied his mother smilingly.

"Oh, Mother! You are as bad as Ruth," laughed Gilbert; "but do you think
I ought to tell Ruth that I hid the candy, and then brought it back?"

"No, not at present. Some time in the future you can tell Ruth about
it, if you wish, but I think it would be too bad to spoil her pleasure
to-day. But perhaps you had better ask Mrs. Pennell, and then do
whatever she thinks best," replied his mother.

The thought of telling Mrs. Pennell of his mischievous act made Gilbert
rather uncomfortable, but he responded promptly:

"All right, Mother. I'll go now," and ran toward the house to wash his
hands before presenting himself at Mrs. Pennell's door.

"So that was it. I could not imagine how it happened," said Mrs. Pennell
when Gilbert had told of hiding the candy, and of meaning to return it
as a May basket. She agreed with Mrs. Merrill that Ruth could be told
the facts later on, and did not seem to feel that Gilbert's joke had
been anything but natural and harmless, so Gilbert returned home with an
untroubled mind.

Betty had asked her little guests to be at her house at half-past ten
o'clock, and when Ruth and Winifred came down the street they saw a big
wagon with two big brown horses standing in front of Betty's house; just
behind the big wagon was a smaller one which Dinah was helping to load
with baskets and packages.

"That's the lunch wagon," said Winifred. "Oh, Ruth! I'm sure we are
going to have a beautiful time. What do you suppose Betty will say when
you tell her about the fairies?"

"I don't know. But probably she will think she is lucky to have a basket
made by fairies," responded Ruth, who did not know the story of the
basket that she carried so carefully.

"I made that basket. Truly I did, Ruth," Winifred declared eagerly.

Ruth's smile vanished. She stood still and looked at Winifred
accusingly.

"Then I suppose there weren't any fairies at all? If you made the basket
you probably put the candy in it and set it in my garden for me to find.
And you let me tell you all about bowing to the lilac tree, and never
said a word," exclaimed Ruth; "and I suppose you have been laughing at
me all the time," she concluded, a little choke coming in her