e, dear"--the tears started to
Phil's eyes--"that no one has been unfair to me because you were Miss
Matilda's choice."

Madge glanced nervously at the little gold clock on their mantel shelf.
"It is nearly time for the entertainment to begin, isn't it?" she
inquired. "I suppose Miss Jenny Ann will call us in time. What a lot of
noise the girls are making in the hall!"

She idly untied her latest graduating gift. It was a small box, made
after a fashion of long years ago, and its tops and sides were encrusted
with tiny shells. On one side of the box the word "Madge" was worked out
in tiny shells as clear and beautiful as jewels. Inside the box, on a
piece of cotton, was a single, wonderful pearl. It was unset, but the two
girls realized that it was rarely beautiful. There was no name in the
box, no card to show from whom it came.

Madge turned the box upside down and peered inside of it. "I don't know
who could have sent this to me," she declared, in a puzzled fashion.
"Mrs. Curtis is the only rich person I know in the whole world, and she
has already given us her presents. I must show this to Uncle and Aunt. I
am afraid they won't wish me to keep it. But I don't know how we are ever
going to return it to the giver when he or she is anonymous."

"Isn't that Miss Jenny Ann calling?" Madge turned pale with the
excitement of the coming hour and thrust the gift under her pillow.

Phyllis picked up a great bunch of red roses. The eventful moment had
arrived. The graduating exercises at Miss Matilda Tolliver's were about
to begin!

Neither of the two girls knew how they walked up on the stage. Before
them swam "a sea of upturned faces." It was impossible to tell one person
from another. When Madge and Phil overcame their fright they discovered
that they were among the twelve girl graduates, who formed a white
semi-circle about the stage, and that Miss Matilda Tolliver was making an
address of welcome to the audience.

Phyllis had no dreaded speech ahead of her. She looked out over the
audience and saw her father and mother, Dr. and Mrs. Alden; and Madge's
uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Butler; but Madge could think of nothing
save the terrifying fact that she must soon deliver her valedictory.

"Madge," whispered Phil softly, "don't look so frightened. You know you
have made speeches before and have acted before people. I am not a bit
afraid you will fail. See if you can find Mrs. Curtis and Tom. There they
are, smilin