290 THE LAND OF PLUCK

could find there. Marie met her glance in a way that, I
know, satisfied Mother. I kissed her, and inwardly re-
solved that I would n’t go to the sugar-bowl all the while
she was gone; no, not once! And little Gertrude, who was
not four years old, looked up and shook her head saucily
as if-to say, “Ill think about it, Mother. My conduct
will depend entirely upon what turns up.”

This is the way Gertrude looked, I say; but, if the truth
could be known, we probably would find that she had al-
ready forgotten Mother’s words, and just shook her head
because we all were watching her.

Mother talked with us a little longer, and then sent
down-stairs for our governess. This was Miss Ellis, a
dear, good lady, who was almost as kind as Mother. -We
loved her very much, and when she looked brightly at us
and said, “Oh, Iam sure they all will be very good and
obedient while Mama is gone,” we echoed her words from
the depths of our saddened little hearts.

It was interesting enough to see Miss Ellis put all the
wonderful things into the trunk — gloves, laces, the fan
that sparkled when you shook it, the little pink shawl
trimmed with swans’ down, that Mother used to throw
around her shoulders when she “ dressed up”; the funny
work-bag that shut by pulling two strings; and the beau-
tiful chintz dress with birds flying all over it. But our
hour of enjoyment was short. When the trunk. was
locked, strapped, and placed in the hall; when Father, who
came home to dinner that day, told Miss Ellis just how to
send for them in case anything should happen; and when,
above all, Father and Mother kissed us for “ good-by” and