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a piece of upholstery velvet in French gray which, said Miss Anne, “ will make up into as fine a pelisse as you please and I daresay Miss ’ s kin will never notice the difference if it ’ s properly trimmed. ” Buttons, thread, and a plain bonnet of basket willow completed their purchases, for Delphie already possessed a very respectable pair of navy-blue jean half boots (good footwear she regarded as a practical economy since she had to spend so much of her time walking to lessons) and a plain white crape dress for holidays or evening occasions, very little worn.
    Next ensued a frenzy of dressmaking. Aunt Andrews was fetched into this, and proved to be an exquisite needlewoman, setting stitches so tiny “ that they co u ld hardly be seen except through a quizzing glass, ” as Jenny said. In twenty-four hours the dress and the pelisse were made, more plainly than the sisters would have wished, but Delphie was adamant on this point.
    “ It would not be suitable for someone circumstanced as I am to be laying out money on French floss, or silk fringe, ” she pointed out.
    “ Ay, very likely that ’ s so, ” sighed Anne, “ though it ’ s a shame not to use that beautiful beading, only three farthings the yard! Still, Miss has very choice taste, and always looks the lady, no matter what, so I daresay she ’ s right. You could take a lesson or two from her, Jenny! ”
    So the gray velvet pelisse was trimmed merely with French braid of a darker gray, and the cambric d ress (which was made regrettably high to the neck in Jenny ’ s vie w ), with deep frills of its own material. And the bonnet was adorned with one curled black ostrich plume which Miss Anne “ had had by her this age, and never could seem to find a use for, somehow. ” Thus equipped, and with a small carpetbag o f needments for the night, Delphie was ready to set off on the Thursday morning when Mr. Browty ’ s carriage rolled around to the door.
    She bade a tender good-by to her mother, who was under the impression that Delphie was merely going into the country for a night to recruit her strength after so much nursing.
    “ I hate to deceive her so, ” Delphie said to Mrs. Andrews, “ but she becomes so very excited and distressed at the least mention of her family that I do not dare run the risk of upsetting her by speaking of them,, particularly when it may be all for nothing! ”
    “ Quite right, Miss. He that lives in hope danceth to an ill tune, ” remarked Mrs. Andrews, who was full of proverbs. “ Best not tell the lady anything unless you can give her fair news. Call me not an apple till you see me gathered. Sickness of the body is cured by health of the soul. Don ’ t you worrit your Ma with possibles; she ’ s happy as a lark to think you ’ re a-jauntering into the country, and I’ ll have her so tended with panadas and my toast - gruel that she ’ ll be a new person by the time you come home. ”
    Thus encouraged, Delphie ran down to the carriage, where Jenny was already impatiently waiting for her, rigged up in a stunning outfit of bright green cloth with velvet sleeves and gold buttons and a floss fringe, an enormous green velvet bonnet, a parasol, and a cloak to match. Anne waved from the doorway, Mrs. Andrews fluttered a handkerchief from the window upstairs, the coachman cracked his whip, and they were off.
    “ Off to seek your fortune, ” sighed Jenny ecstatically. “ Lor, Miss Delphie, ain ’ t it romantical! ”
    Delphie laughed. She could not help feeling many apprehensions as to the outcome of her expedition, but, insensibly, from the fineness of the morning and the smooth motion of the carriage, her spirits had taken an upward turn. Mr. Browty ’ s carriage was so very comfortable! It was deeply upholstered, a thick sheepskin rug muffled any possible drafts on the floor, and besides that there was a fur carriage-rug, which was hardly needed on a bright May morning.
    “ But so grand! ” sighed Jenny. “ My