visions of pink calico gowns, new grammars, and fresh hat-ribbons
danced through her head in delightful confusion, as her eyes rested
on the shining coin in her palm.

Then, with a solemn air, she invested her first money by popping it
down the chimney of the scarlet mansion, and peeping in with one eye
to see if it landed safely on the ground-floor. This done, she took
a long breath, and looked over the railing, to be sure it was not
all a dream. No; the wheel marks were still there, the brown water
was not yet clear, and, if a witness was needed, there sat the big
frog again, looking so like the old gentleman, with his bottle-green
coat, speckled trousers, and twinkling eyes, that Marjorie burst out
laughing, and clapped her hands, saying aloud,--

"I'll play he was the Brownie, and this is the good-luck penny he
gave me. Oh, what fun!" and away she skipped, rattling the dear new
bank like a castanet.

When she had told granny all about it, she got knife and basket, and
went out to dig dandelions; for the desire to increase her fortune
was so strong, she could not rest a minute. Up and down she went, so
busily peering and digging, that she never lifted up her eyes till
something like a great white bird skimmed by so low she could not
help seeing it. A pleasant laugh sounded behind her as she started
up, and, looking round, she nearly sat down again in sheer surprise,
for there close by was a slender little lady, comfortably
established under a big umbrella.

"If there WERE any fairies, I'd be sure that was one," thought
Marjorie, staring with all her might, for her mind was still full of