"Miss Falkner gives all hers to the Church Missionary Society," Jill went on; "but Jack and Bumps and me thought we'd like to see where our money went."
"Wise little woman!"
Mr. Errington emptied the bag, and delighted Jill by giving her a formal receipt for it, and entering the sum in an account book. She ran away quite happy, waving her scarlet bag in the air, and wishing with all her heart that birthdays and Christmas, and all such occasions for receiving presents, would come every day.
"Mona is going to have a party," announced Jack one day soon after this. "I went into the drawing-room to give Miss Webb her pencil that I picked up, and she and Mona were talking about it. It is to be next Wednesday."
The children were just beginning their afternoon lessons; and Jill was washing her slate preparatory to doing a sum.
"How jolly!" she cried. "I hope she'll let us come to it. When is it to be? Is it a dinner party?"
"No, a garden party. It's going to be a very grand one. There's a band coming, and a tent for fruit and ices, and there will be tennis and croquet, and bowls and——"
"Now, Jack," said Miss Falkner quietly, "that is enough. Lessons now, and talk after."
It was hard to obey, but Jack put a restraint upon himself, and when lessons were over Jill determined to get no more news second-hand.
"Come on, Bumps. I'm going to ask Mona about it."