ON Monday afternoon Aunt Annie came for the children, according to promise, and Aunt Helen was with her.
"For I have a little business with Maggie," said Mrs. Duncan; "but no one else is to know what it is, so mamma and Bessie are to ask no questions."
This was delightfully mysterious.
"Nobody is to ask questions at Christmas-time," said Bessie, gravely. "Mamma made that yule."
"And it is a wise one too," said Aunt Helen.
"How long do you suppose our Meg can keep a secret, Aunt Helen?" asked Fred.
"I know she has kept one for three months so well, that I am going to trust her with a second."
"Pretty good for Midget," said Fred.
It was indeed a triumph for heedless Maggie. So carefully had she kept the secret of the picture, not even saying, "I know something," or, "Something is going to happen," that mamma suspected nothing; and though Bessie knew there was a secret, she had not the least idea what it might be.