Which was in truth the case. As they crossed the garden they noticed that day was just dawning. They found the back door locked, but Jack scrambled through the scullery window, which was unfastened, and so let Molly in without disturbing anybody. They crept upstairs and managed to get an hour’s rest before the breakfast bell rang.
Molly remembered to place her little box on the dressing-table before she went to sleep, and when she woke she saw that the sun was streaming right across it. So she sprang up eagerly and opened the box. Inside was the most exquisite silver bangle that she had ever seen. Molly was delighted, and she found afterward that it had indeed some special charm about it, for she was always happy when wearing it and those around her seemed the same.
At the breakfast-table Mother and Father seemed to the children to glance at them rather curiously.
“Mother,” began Molly, “do you know who gave me this?” and she showed her the silver bracelet.
“Yes,” said Mother to Molly’s surprise. “I know all about it.”
“Why, how did you?” asked Jack.
But “Ah!” was all Mother would say, and she and Father exchanged amused glances.
It was a little puzzling. And even when there arrived by post for Jack a long narrow box containing three paint-brushes, Mother and Father never asked whom they were from, although there was no name inside.
“I suppose there’s no need for us to tell you all about our adventure, if you know already?” remarked Jack. “Do you know everything?”
“Everything,” replied Mother, smiling.