"Your affectionate "Jean."
Jean was the kindest little soul in the world, but this hint about Aunt Emma's not liking shy people was a mistake. It made Emmy more frightened and ill at ease than ever.
Washing over, she went to the dressing-table to braid her hair. Behold! another billet on the pincushion. This was in rhyme:—
"O Emmy tall, O Emmy fair,
Don't forget to brush your hair.
Pin your ruffle neat and straight,
Be down to breakfast at half-past eight;
Don't crook your shoulders when you sit down,
Don't rip the gathers of your gown,
Don't set up to be lonesome, pray,
Because we girls are gone away,
But cheer up auntie and Uncle Tom,
And we'll be back anon, anon!"
"Anon-y-mous."
This made Emmy smile, and she did her hair quite cheerfully. When she opened the top drawer to put away her comb and brush, she spied a small parcel directed to herself, and laid there to catch her eye. She gave a little laugh. How nice in the girls to do this for her!
The parcel was from Lena. It contained a very pretty velvet pincushion, mounted on a fluted shell, and a note.
"Dear Emmy,—We are so sorry not to be here when you come, but we shall only be gone a little while. Marian Jarvis is such a nice girl! She wants to see you dreadfully. I do hope you will like her. You must do everything pleasant that you can think of till we come back.
"Your loving
"Lena."
One more surprise awaited Emmy. She was just leaving the room when she spied a large piece of brown paper pinned to the wall. On it was the following mysterious inscription,—
"N. E. corner of room, under edge of carpet. Search rewarded."