was I talking about? Ah, yes! not a soul nearer than Australia, and
_three_ letters by this morning's post. Isn't it wonderful? People are
so kind. Really, except Monday, when there was a fashion-book from a
shop--I do like seeing the fashions--there's been something on my plate
every morning. That's so cheering to begin the day. You know some one
has been thinking of you, and caring enough to sit down and write."

Jean cast a twinkling glance across the table at Vanna.

"What did they want this time, Miggles? I bet anything you like, that
every second letter was to beg for something that you have no business
to give, and that you were weak enough to say yes all round. Can you
deny it?"

"Why should I, dear child? Such a privilege. Most kind of them to have
given me the opportunity. Old clothes! I don't suppose you ever _have_
old clothes, Miss Vanna--they always look so fresh and new. I like to
see a girl in pretty clothes. When I was young, shallis were in
fashion. I don't suppose you ever saw shallis--very stiff, not nearly
so graceful as your delaines. A dear lady gave me a brown shalli,
trimmed with pipings. Brown was never my colour, but it wore for
years--so very kind. Nowadays I have to wear wool for my poor bones.
Wool always did irritate my skin. It took me weeks to get accustomed to
sleep in blankets. I used to lie awake at nights tossing from side to
side, and thinking of all the poor creatures who had no warm coverings--
and mine the very best Whitney, the ones from the spare room, Jean, with
the blue stripes. Mrs Goring said I was to have them. I'm sure if I'd
been the Queen--"

"Oh, it's wonderful to think of. Real Whitney blankets with blue
stripes, on which to toss about and groan! What luck you have, Miggles,
and how thankful you ought to be that you have bones to _ache_. If you
hadn't had that bad feverish attack, you might have been left stranded
with your own bedding. It is piteous to think of."

Miggles shook her large, ugly head with elephantine playfulness.

"Naughty child! naughty child! You are laughing at me, I can see. It
is very painful, especially during the night, and I used to be so proud
of my hands. I've had to give up wearing my turquoise ring, the
knuckles are so enlarged. That really was a trial; but when you think
what other people have to bear... There's that poor man at Oxford
Circus, who wheels about on a board. I always wonder if there are an