“Oh, she was playing a game with you and she knew you understood.  It isn’t pleasant to have to say such things to you, Gladys, but I’m Vera and I have to—­I shouldn’t think you could lift your head up and look Faith and Ernest in the face to-morrow morning.  What must Ernest think of you!”

Gladys’s cheeks were very hot.  “Didn’t you see how glad Faith was when she gave—­I mean when I found the prince in the bowl?  I guess you haven’t read what it says on that silver cover or you wouldn’t talk so.”

“Oh, yes, I have.  That’s truth, too, but you haven’t found it out yet.”

“Well, I wish I had brought them something,” said Gladys, after a little pause.  “Why,” with a sudden thought, “there’s the wishing-bowl.  I’ll get something for them right now!”

She jumped out of bed, and striking a match, lighted the candle.  Vera followed her, and as Gladys seated herself on one side of the little table that held the silver bowl, Vera climbed into a chair on the other side.  Gladys looked into her eyes thoughtfully while she considered.  She would give Faith something so far finer than the baby prince that everybody would praise her for her generosity, and no one would remember that she had ever been selfish.  Ah, she knew what she would ask for!

“For Faith first,” she said, addressing Vera, then looking at the glinting bowl she silently made her wish, then with eager hand lifted off the cover.

Ah!  Ah!  What did she behold!  A charming little bird, whose plumage changed from purple to gold in the candle light, stood on a tiny golden stand at the bottom of the bowl.

Gladys lifted it out, and as soon as it stood on her hand, it began to warble wonderfully, turning its head from side to side like some she had seen in Switzerland when she was there with her mother.

“Oh, Vera, isn’t it sweet!” she cried in delight.

“Beautiful!” returned Vera, smiling and clapping her little hands.

When the song ceased Gladys looked thoughtful again.  “I don’t think it’s a very appropriate present for Faith,” she said, “and I’ve always wanted one, but we could never find one so pretty in our stores.”

Vera looked at her very soberly.

“Now you just stop staring at me like that, Vera.  I guess it’s mine, and I have a right to keep it if I can think of something that would please Faith better.  Now let me see.  I must think of something for Ernest.  I’ll just give him something so lovely that he’ll wish he’d bitten his tongue before he spoke so to me in the boat.”

Gladys set the singing bird in her lap, fixed her eyes on the bowl, and again decided on a wish.

Taking off the cover, a gold watch was seen reposing on the bottom of the bowl.  “That’s it, that’s what I wished for!” she cried gladly, and she took out the little watch, which was a wonder.  On its side was a fine engraving of boys and girls skating on a frozen pond.  Gladys’s bright eyes caught sight of a tiny spring, which she touched, and instantly a fairy bell struck the hour and then told off the quarters and minutes.