“We’ve got ’em! We’ve got ’em! We’ve got ’em!” and both girls came tearing into the room to cast themselves and two very suggestive looking parcels upon Mrs. Rockwood.
“What in this world has happened?” she asked, in amazement, for both girls were breathless, and could only point at the parcels in her lap and say: “Open them! Open them, quick!”
Mrs. Rockwood was a woman who entered heart and soul into her daughter’s pleasures, and nothing was ever quite right in Jean’s eyes unless her mother shared it. Every little plan must be talked over with her, and it was pretty sure not to suffer any from one of her suggestions. Helen spent a great deal of time with Jean and was devoted to Mrs. Rockwood. Consequently, when the cameras arrived at the school that morning, and they found out that there was really no mistake, but that they were certainly intended for the persons whose names were so plainly written upon the boxes, and sent in Miss Preston’s care, they could hardly wait to get over to Jean’s house to show their treasures to her mother. Many had been the surmises as to whom had sent such beauties, but Toinette kept a perfectly sober face, and no one suspected the secret.
Carefully removing the wrappings, Mrs. Rockwood brought the contents of the boxes to view. She was as much surprised as the girls, and exclaimed: “Why, who could have sent them to you, and how did anyone learn that you were so anxious to have them? Such beauties, too!”
“That is the funniest part of it all, for we never told a soul, and didn’t mean to till we had them, and now here they are. I believe St. Nick must have heard us wishing for them,” said Helen.
“And to both of us, and just alike! Think of it! Oh, moddie, isn’t it lovely?” and Jean threw her arms about her mother’s neck by way of giving vent to her feelings.
“I’m as delighted as you and Helen are, dear, only I wish we might learn who our benefactor is.”
“Yes, isn’t it too bad. Well, it may crop out later. I thought first it must be Miss Preston, but she said that she did not know any more about it than we did,” said Helen.
“Now, when may we take our pictures, and what shall we take?” cried Jean.
“You suggest something, Mrs. Rockwood; it will be nicer if you do it,” said Helen, dropping down upon her knees beside Mrs. Rockwood, and placing her arm around her friend’s waist.