Easter gifts,"
said he.

"Have you, papa? What were they? Were they as nice as Miss Rivers's?"

"I don't know, but I thought they were the best sort of gifts, for I saw
that plenty of kind thought and clever contrivance went to them, ay, and
some little self-denial too."

"Papa, you look as if you meant something; but ours are nothing but
nasty old rubbish."

"Perhaps some fairy, or something better, has brought a wand to touch
the rubbish, Blanche; for I think that the maidens gave what would have
been worthless kept, but became precious as they gave it."

"Do you mean the list of our flannel petticoats, papa, that Mary has
made into a tippet?"

"Perhaps I meant Mary's own time and pains, as well as the tippet. Would
she have done much good with them otherwise?"

"No, she would have played. Oh! then you like the presents because they
are our own making? I never thought of that. Was that the reason you did
not give us any of your sovereigns to buy things with?"

"Perhaps I want my sovereigns for the eleven gaping mouths at home,
Blanche. But would not it be a pity to spoil your pleasure? You would
have lost all the chattering and laughing and buzzing I have heard round
Margaret of late, and I am quite sure Miss Rivers can hardly be as happy
in the gifts that cost her nothing, as one little girl who gives her
sugar-plums out of her own mouth!"

Blanche clasped her papa's hand tight, and bounded five or six times.
"They are our presents, not yours," said she. "Yes, I see. I like them
better now."

"Ay, ay," said the doctor. "Seeing Miss Rivers's must not take the shine
out of yours, my little maids; for if you can't give much, you have the
pleasure of giving the best of all, your labour of love." Then thinking
on, and speaking to Flora, "The longer I live, the more I see the
blessing of being born in a state of life where you can't both eat your
cake and give it away."

Flora never was at ease in a conversation with her father; she could
not follow him, and did not like to show it. She answered aside from the
mark, "You would not have Blanche underrate Miss Rivers?"

"No, indeed, she is as good and sweet a creature as ever came across
me--most kind to Margaret, and loving to all the world. I like to see
one whom care and grief have never set their grip upon. Most likely she
would do like Ethel, if she had the opportunity, but she has not."

"So she has not the same merit?" said Flora.

"We don't talk of