Rosy

ourtly gem more be

THE STRAW

ying to Rosy's mother, as he sat beside her on the sofa during the few mi

lt to judge of one's own children, I think, or indeed of any face you see constantly. I thought Rosy very pretty,

d about. The truth was that she was thinking to herself how little she would care whether Rosy was

Vincent while you were away, w

is very fond of her. She gave herse

e is, as of course you know, an old friend of ours, and she writes often to ask

s. Vincent. "I had begun to think she would not come thi

. Furnivale, and then he went on to talk of something else to hi

it is to spoil Rosy. But it is the maid-that Nelson-I cannot like or trust her, and I believe she did Rosy more harm than all her aunt's over

lped Bee before her-that, she could not but allow was right, as Bee was a guest-but now it seemed to her that he chose the nicest bits for Bee, with a care he never showed in helping her. Rosy was not the least greedy-she would have been ready and pleased to give away anything, so long as she got the credit of it, and was praised and thanked, but t

e did not like to ask Mr. Furnivale not to mention it, as it seemed ungrateful to think or speak of a visit from Miss Vincent except

with you. Cecy had no idea of it, and she begged me to give your little girl this present we bought for he

the others. I can scarcely tell you how pretty they were. Every one was different, and they were beautifully arranged so that the colours came together in the prettiest possible way. One was pale blue with little tiny flowers, pink or rose-coloured raised upon it; one was white with a sort of rainbow glistening of every colour

imed Rosy's mother, "h

ese are really old, and the imitation ones, which they make in plenty,

g. "I think they are lovely-and what a pretty or

east something else for the other little girl. You would not wish me,

elfish, and her natural thought was that in anything of the kind, Bee, the little stranger, the child in her c

se that terrible jealousy of Rosy's, and it might grow beyond my power to undo the harm it would do. As it is, seeing, as I kn

nest eyes-Rosy's eyes were honest too-and like her m

t from good motives-when I ask you not to change, but still to give it to

ll not forget to send it-indeed, I might write to the dealer beforehand to look out for one. I a

Furnivale said "Yes," she went to the window opening out on to th

Felix-not Rosy). "I daresay she will be going to scold me, now luncheon's over. I wish that ugly old Mr. Furniture would go away," for all the cross, angry, jealous thoughts had come back to poor Rosy since she had taken it into her head

that day. Again she was to be tried with kindness in

ought of her child's pleasure, "Mr. Furnivale-or perhaps I should say Miss Furnivale-whom we all speak of as "Cecy," you know, has sent you s

w very pretty! And they are for me. Oh, how very kind of Miss Furni-of Miss Cecy," sh

Furnivale began to think he had been mistaken in thinking the little V

the beads softly with her little fingers. And th

klace for Bee,

ut there was in the child's face a look that made her not sure that the question was quite

ne for Bee. Mr. Furnivale

first, and joined to this pleasure was a nice honest sorrow that Bee was left out. Now that Rosy was satisfied that she herself was properly treated she found time to think of Bee. And though the necklace had been six times as pretty, though i

of me to give it to Bee? I

thought of it. We will do something to ma

e to get one something like it fo

asure would be met with the heartiest sympathy-for "sympathy," dears, can be shown to those about us in their joys as well as in their sorrows-Rosy ran off in the highest spirits. Mr. Furnivale

ling to take it," she added, "she i

EVER SEE ANYTHING SO PRE

laughing. And Mrs. Vincent laughed too-the whole world seemed to have grown brighter to her since t

gleefully off

ran up to her breathlessly, and she opened the box, "see," and she held up the lovely necklace, lovelier than ever as it glittered in the sunshine, every c

a, with her whole

, his blue eyes opened

yours, Rosy

m somewhere. I don't remember the name of the place, but I k

se geography was not q

got it. Oh, isn't it lovely? I may wear it for best. Won't it be pretty with a

. "O Rosy, I am so glad you've got such a pretty thing. Don't you feel happy?"

Are you not the least bit vexed, Bee, that you haven'

d up with r

g. And besides it is a pleasure to me even though it's not my necklace. It will be nice to see you wearing it, and I know you'll let me look at it in my

iries looking out of some of them. I think if we was to listen

fond of calling other people's fancies "rubbish." Fixie

them, couldn't we? Are you going to put on the beads now, Rosy? I think I can fasten the clasp, if you'll turn round. Yes, that's right

saw them coming, was pleased to see, as she expecte

Bee about her perhaps getting one too. It was better

hing about it just yet, as we are not at all sure of it

least bit vexed for me to have them

that this pretty necklace will be a kind of talisman to you-perhaps it is silly of me to say it, but the idea came into my mind-I was so glad that you o

of charm, isn't it, mamma?-a kind of nice fairy charm. You mean that I should be so pleased with the necklace, mamma, that

. "If it makes you feel like

eased with herself and ev

y, but not without promises of

come with you,"

my bestest lov

ivale, "and I'll tell her too that she woul

said Beata, "I would so

please tell her how dreadfull

ind old gentle

a was coming true. There was such a great improvement in Rosy-she seemed so much

talisman," said Mrs. Vincent, la

her, which was much too large for her small fingers at present, and her ivory-bound prayer-book, and various other treasures to be enjoyed by her when she should be "a big girl." And many an hour the children amused themselves with the lovely beads, examining them till they knew eve

tty fancies and amusement which the chi