"It was a plan of her own, but it wasn't anything naughty or rude, I am sure." Aunty and Sylvia went off to the little wood, as the children called it--in reality a very small plantation of young trees, where any one could be easily perceived, especially now when the leaves were few and far between.

No, there was no Molly there.

Hurriedly, aunty and Sylvia retraced their steps.
"Let us go round by the lodge," said aunty--they had left the house by the back gate--"and see if old Marie knows anything of where she is." As they came near to the lodge they saw old Marie coming to meet them.
"Is Mademoiselle looking for the little demoiselle ?" she said with a smile.

"Yes, she is in my kitchen--she has been there for half-an-hour.
Poor little lady, she was in trouble, and I tried to console her.

But the dear ladies have not been anxious about her?
Ah yes! But how sorry I am! I knew it not, or I would have run up to tell Marcelline where she was." "Never mind, Marie," said aunty.