Nobody

tside announced that the travellers were returning. And in they came, bringing a

re!"-and then there were warm embraces, and then the old grandmoth

he steam up to-day, I can tell you. There's no saying how good supper will be; for our lunch wasn't much, and not good at that;

. I suppose you found ou

s!" said Madge. "Aren'

we'd have everything t

l comfortable? Is the t

inu

s easier sa

f hats are they we

New Haven, the milliner, said everybody was goi

illa as well as she

! But is everybody wea

ust be early

of course. But is ev

ow. I do not

the tall sister. "What

people

e. I do not know very w

r differen

one thing that is the fashion; and that is the thing one wants to know about.

are sm

ven said they were going to be l

much. Moreover, there is my new straw bonnet w

y; and talk ran on in the

a great many people? At

her house and a

eat fun?"

, to see the different ways of people, and the beautifu

Was everythin

n most of the houses where I went wa

eemed so to you

s!" urged the

tables on the table, and solid silver pudding dishes, and

the elder sister. "What's the use o' ha

at all?" laughed Lois. "They might be ser

they must be in dishes of some sort; but veg

le linen is a pleasure to see, just the damask; it is so white, and so fine, and so smooth, and woven in such lovely designs. Mrs. Wishart is very fond of her table linen, and has it in beautiful patterns. Then silver is always handsome. Then sometimes there is a most superb cen

am!" cri

ll that?" said Charity, who had

ooking so very pre

bles in silver dishes? I should like to know why thin

etter, I suppos

ication which the other two were making. For Madge was a very handsome girl, while Cha

That's all pride, silver dishes, and flowers, and stuff. It just makes people stuck-up. Don't they think t

s; "but I do not kn

Madge, "are the

of t

lost your hea

part o

, to whom, Loi

art's blac

rity. "Haven't Shampua

tell

Madge, "who was the n

now. A good many

the cleverest? and who was the kindest to y

indest to me?" Lois repeated slowly. "Well, l

o's

Carut

is he,

ought of; rich, and knows everyb

everest, too,

think

was t

ntleman; a

" Madge

ame. It is spelt D, i, l, l, w, y,

indest to you?

Lois said evasively. "Kind en

you like b

he world, and nothing to me; but of t

shall remember

lk, children," rema

hildren are bound to be fooli

's the common way; but it ain't the easiest way. Lois said true; these people are noth

from New York. And then it knew no stop. While the table was clearing, and while Charity and Madge were doing up the dishes, and when they all sat down round the fire afterwards, there went on a ceaseless, restless, unendi

dgment, and a fearless speech, all belonged to Mrs. Marx; universally esteemed and looked up to and welcomed by all her associates. She was not handsome; she was even strikingly deficient in the lines of beauty; and refinement was not one of her characteristics, other than the refinement which comes of kindness and unselfishness. Mrs. Marx would be delicately careful of another's feelings, when there was real need; she could show an ex

ment, made to Mrs. Armadale, at the conclusion

go off by herself among all those highflyers. It's

s at this, "whom can you p

birds that ea

wanted to eat me

and a real pigeon. The pigeon knows

the hawks all

our heads one of these fine days. But now, you see, grandma has got you under her wing again." Mrs. Marx was Mrs. Armadale's half-daught

sed to look," Lois

out o' things? Ha' you got your

am going out into the ga

e is

the frost hasn't been

nd look arter my old man. He just let me run away now 'cause I told him I was kind o' crazy about the fashions; and he said 'twas a

h light from Lois,

anything, Lois, wh

so, aun

earnin' ain't good for muc

nclined to be generous with

huh ain't much of a place," the

sson backwards, then. Shamp

es, nor drink out o' gold spoons; and our horses can go witho

any use in all that,

ne," Lois answered wit

think such nonsense. Ain't our victuals as good

alw

olks better coo

nts that know ho

servants' doin's! What can they

e a soufflé,

t's

scuit

hampuashuh lady. "What do you mean, Lois?

s have no En

ny the bett

it is possible for anything to be; and there are a hundred

h a mingled expression of incredulity and curiosity and desire, which it was comical to se

Lois; "but I could not go d

y n

the kitchen, excep

ied Mrs. Marx, sinking down again

xcept the

heard o' New York. And do you thin

. It is pleasant to have ple

other

adi

for me, and do all my own work, too. I like play, as well as other

the servants

to, they're free to put their fingers in other folks' business. And they get sot up, besides. My word for it, it ain't healthy for mind nor body. And you needn't think I'm doin' what I