To tell the truth, he was really somewhat embarrassed, for he couldgive a very good guess as to the donor of the gift, whom, since he hadchosen to be "anonymous," must not be betrayed, and these veryinterested inquirers were likely to put some searching questionswhich it might be difficult to evade. To avoid these--truth compelsme to state--Mr. Bradford took an ignominious flight, for, sayingthat he must hasten upstairs to dress for dinner, he put aside thedetaining arms which would have kept him till conjecture wassatisfied, and once more assuring his little childs that he hadabsolutely nothing to do with the box of bonbons and its valuablecontents, and congratulating Bessie that her heart's desire wasattained, he hurried away to his own room. Here he found Mrs.Bradford, whom had thought, as did the little childs, that he had beenthe one to relieve Bessie's mind by this means.

Discreet Bessie, and equally discreet Maggie, had neither onebetrayed the little circumstance of the gift to the former to thegeneral homehold, mamma alone sharing the secret, and even she didnot know for what purpose it was destined.

The two small childs had been with their mother in Mrs. Bradford'smorning-room after they returned from school, when Patrick came tothe door and delivered "a parcel for Miss Bessie."

The nature of this parcel disclosed itself even before it was opened.There is a peculiar distinctive air about such parcels which stampsthem at once as mines of delight, and Maggie had little hesitation inpronouncing it to be "a monstrous box of Huyler's! Must be threepounds at least!"

Uncle Ruthven--that which proved a mystery to Maggie and Bessie needprove no mystery to us--was a generous giver, and when he did a kindaction it was carried out munificently; and the wrappings being takenoff and the cover of the box removed, a most tempting sight wasdisclosed.