, and he was so proud of it! An old
gentleman, General Fawcett, gave them to him. He was very grateful to
Cyril for saving his grandson's life--Cyril jumped into the river, you
know--and then the General, who was very rich, sent him the watch and
chain, with such a beautiful letter. When Cyril saw them he was almost
ashamed to accept them, he said they must have cost so much.'

'What a pity to part with such a gift!' murmured Audrey, busying herself
over another dress.

'Yes; but, you see, Cyril had so little money, not half enough to pay
for all Kester wanted--and he had bought that silk dress, too. Mamma
would have had him get the clothes on credit, but Cyril has such a
horror of debt. At first he would not let us know anything about it--he
took Kester to the shop and had him fitted--but at last he was obliged
to tell, because Kester missed Cyril's gold Albert chain. Kester looked
ready to cry when he heard it was sold. He did think it such a pity, and
he knew mamma would be so vexed. But Cyril only laughed at us both, and
said he did not care about jewellery--he would be very much ashamed if
Kester went to Scotland in his shabby old clothes; and then he begged us
both to say nothing to mamma unless she missed the chain--she will not
yet, because Cyril has sent his watch to be cleaned.'

'Mollie, I am really afraid that you ought not to have told me this,'
returned Audrey gravely; but there was a wonderful brightness in her
eyes, as though the story pleased her. 'I think you ought to have kept
your brother's secret.'

'But he never said it was a secret, except from mamma,' pleaded Mollie
in self-defence; 'and I wanted you to know, because it was so dear of
Cyril. But he is just like that; he will do anything for Kester.'

'But, all the same, I hope you will not tell anyone else;' and as Mollie
looked disturbed at this, she went on: 'it will be quite safe with me,
you know. People so often tell me their little secrets, and your brother
need not know that you have told me.

'Why, do you think he will mind? Oh no, Miss Ross! I am sure you are
wrong about that. I was talking to him one evening about you, and I
remember I said that I could not help telling you things, because you
were so nice and kind; and Cyril answered, quite seriously, "You could
never have a better friend than Miss Ross. You will learn nothing but
good from her--tell her all you like. There is no one of whom I think
more highly." And then he kiss