by a beautiful
plantation of trees; and the continued poor living and the hurried
meals began to tell upon a constitution naturally much less robust than
Jane's, so that she began to look pale and thin, and coughed a good
deal, and lost her appetite.

With all these drawbacks she improved so much in taste and skill that
Mrs. Dunn raised her wages--or salary, as she genteelly called it--and
put her at the head of the department in which she so much excelled, so
that she could not bear to give up her contribution to the little fund
that Jane was putting into the Savings Bank.

Miss Rennie had persuaded her mamma to try Mrs. Dunn's establishment,
and had told that lady that it was all on Miss Elsie Melville's
account, so she often saw her and Laura Wilson there, and made bonnets
for both of them with her own hands; and the Chalmerses and Jardines
had also come to see how Elsie got on, and other people from the
neighbourhood of Swinton. Elsie would rather not have had dealings with
so many old acquaintances, but Mrs. Dunn thought it was a just reward
for her kindness that she had this increase of custom.

One day, about four months after she had been engaged in this business,
Miss Rennie and Miss Wilson came in with most important-looking faces.
While Miss Wilson was busied turning over the fashion-books, her friend
whispered to Elsie:

"It is really a case; Laura is engaged to Mr. Dalzell, your old friend
and neighbour, and she is going to give one of her wedding orders here.
Mrs. Dunn should be greatly obliged to you, for we never would have
come to the house but for you. But this marriage amuses me a good deal.
I'm sure your sister was fifty times too good for him, and Laura and he
will just suit each other. He is very much attached to her fortune, and
she will have it settled upon herself; at least, papa will see that is
done as tightly as she could wish, and Laura has a sharp eye to number
one, I can assure you. She is quite delighted at the idea of being
married at eighteen, to such a handsome man, of such a good family.
Mrs. Dalzell has been to see us, and been so gracious. After all, what
better luck could she look for than to be married for her money? with
such a temper as she has, too. He certainly is handsome; but for my
part, I would rather have a man who is downright ugly than one who
grins and bows like William Dalzell. I will be quite glad when this
affair is over. Lovers are very tiresome when one does n