ot quite
believe in the love."

"Well, Laura dear, have you made up your mind about the dresses?"
continued Miss Rennie, in a louder voice.

"You had better go to Mademoiselle Defour about the dresses," said
Elsie. "I must keep to my own department."

"Oh, Laura wants your taste to help us to decide; you know better what
suits than mademoiselle," said Miss Rennie.

"But I am going to be busy here," said Elsie, who never felt much
disposed to wait on Miss Wilson, and at this time less than ever; and
she turned to an elderly lady, of a very pleasing countenance, who,
with a pretty girl of thirteen, entered the showroom at that moment.

"Oh, Miss Thomson," said Miss Rennie, shaking hands with the new comer,
"how do you do? Are you in Edinburgh just now? You must come to see
mamma; she will be so disappointed if you leave her out. Have you come
to hear Dr. B----? He preaches for the last time in Edinburgh on
Sunday."

"I am to be in Edinburgh for a few days," said Miss Thomson, "and will
certainly call on your mother."

"This is one of your nieces, I suppose?" said Miss Rennie.

"Yes, this is Grace Forrester, my youngest niece, who has been doing so
well at school, and been such a good girl altogether, that I must needs
give her a new frock for a party she is invited to next week, and get
it fashionably made, too, no doubt."

"This is not the dressmaking-room--Miss Melville is the milliner. We
must go to the next room for Grace's frock," said Miss Rennie.

"But I am in want of a new cap and bonnet for myself, and I must teach
Grace that old people must be served first, and that young folks must
wait with patience," said Miss Thomson, looking very kindly on the
girl. "Miss Melville can take my order, I suppose? You are the sister
of the young lady who called on me some time ago?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Elsie.

"I can see a very slight likeness. I was very glad to hear such good
accounts of your sister getting a situation with some rich colonial
people in London; and I hear, too, that you are a remarkably good hand
in your own line, so I have come to ask you to make me a cap and a
bonnet that will keep on my head; and that is what I cannot get the
fashionable milliner I have employed so long to make me this year back."

"I can make to please Peggy Walker," said Elsie, smiling; "but you will
wish for more style--a compromise between fashion and comfort."

"With a decided leaning towards comfort," said Miss Thomso