That night when Godmother was tucking Mary Alice in, they had a long,
long talk about the caller of the afternoon and about some other people
Godmother knew, and about how sad a thing it is to take for granted
about any person certain qualities we think must go with his estate.

"And now," said Godmother, "I'm going to tell you the Secret."

And she did. Then turned out the light, kissed Mary Alice one more
time, and left her to think about it.




V

GOING TO THE PARTY

"Now," said Godmother, the very next morning after she had told Mary
Alice the Secret, "to see how it _works_! This evening I am going to
take you to a most delightful place."

"What kind of a place?" Mary Alice begged to know. Already, despite
the Secret, she was feeling fearful.

Godmother squeezed Mary Alice's hand sympathetically; and then, because
that was not enough, she dropped a brief kiss on Mary Alice's anxious
young forehead. "I know how you feel, dear," she whispered. "All of
us, I guess, have fairy charms that we're afraid to use. Others have
used them, we know, and found them miraculous. But somehow, we're