the Comtesse doesn't pay us back."

"What kind of picnic would it have been?" asked Hugh, driving along the
beautiful shore road, where the wind-blown pines lean forward like
transformed wood nymphs, caught in a spell just as they spread out their
arms to spring into the sea.

"Angel has told me lots of history-stories about the strange
rock-villages in the mountains. There's one called Eze, on top of a hill
shaped almost like a horn; she showed me a picture of it. Children live
up in the rock villages, and never come down to the towns. They've never
even seen any toys, like other children play with, Angel says. All the
strangers who come here give presents to the poor in Monte Carlo and
Mentone, and big places like that; but they never think of the ones up
in the mountains. Angel said how nice it would be, if we were rich, to
buy toys,--baskets and baskets full,--and give them away to the
children of Eze. Perhaps you are rich; are you?"

"Richer than I thought, a few years ago, that I ever should be. I used
to be poor, until I dug, and found some gold lying about in the ground."

"How splendid! I suppose the fairies showed you where to look. Jane says
there are no fairies, but I do hope she's mistaken. I wish you would
send up some presents to the little children at Eze."

"I will, lots, if you'll take them."

"Perhaps we could all go together."

"I'm afraid your mother wouldn't care for that."

"Yes, she would. Because, if you were never unkind to her, like Nurse
said you were, she'll be most awfully glad to see you again. I shouldn't
wonder if she'd cry for joy, to have you with us always, and take care
of us. Oh, do let's go back now, and I'll take you to her. She _will_ be
surprised!"

"I should think she would," said Hugh. "But look here; you said she
wouldn't get back till dark. We've come to Mentone now. See how pretty
the shops are for Christmas. Can't you stop and have some nice hot
chocolate and cakes with me, and afterwards choose a doll for yourself,
as a Christmas present from your old friend?"

As he put this temptation before her, he slowed down the car in front of
a shop with big glass windows full of sparkling cakes, and ribbon-tied
baskets of crystallized fruits. Through the windows Rosemary could see a
great many well-dressed people sitting at little marble tables, and it
would have been delightful to go in. But she shook her head. The sun
was setting over the sea. The sky was flooded wit