n their feathers!"

"Even then you wouldn't want to take your bath," said Laura, giving a
last touch to the shining locks which hung like a veil to the child's
waist. "I'll be ready in a minute, Alene," she continued, as she
released the little girl, "I didn't feel satisfied until I saw you
coming!"

"I got all ready when Nettie left, and could hardly wait for Uncle Fred
to come home to show him your note. The old dear said yes, right away,
but insisted upon my taking some dinner first. Then I waited to gather
these roses for your Mother. Shall we start now?"

Ivy was standing at the door with her seven-year-old brother awaiting
their coming, and taking note of Alene's dress of white challis
o'erstrewn with pink rosebuds which, as they came nearer, disclosed a
yoke embroidered in the same design, while a wreath of roses adorned
her hat. She thought it was a beautiful costume, and that the other
girls looked nice, too, though Laura's white dimity and Nettie's blue
pique were as well worn as her own familiar lawn.

"Where's Lafe?" inquired Laura.

"He ran ahead with Donald to join us later. I think they are ashamed
to be seen with this mob!" returned Ivy with a laugh. "What will Mr.
Edmonds think of us?"

Laura declared he wouldn't care, but when they reached the hall where a
great crowd was congregated, and she saw so many getting their tickets
at the box-office and filing, one by one, past the door-keeper, she
began to feel less confident.

They threaded their way slowly through the crowded court, where all the
children of the town seemed to have collected and finally reached the
side door.

"Here comes an orphan asylum," was the derisive and no doubt envious
cry of a boy who had heard of the wonderful luck that had befallen the
Lees and their friends. Indeed the knowledge seemed general, and as
they came along, first Laura with Nettie clinging to her skirts, and
then Alene, to whom it was all so new and exciting, trying to keep
little Claude safe from harm, with Ivy bringing up the rear, they were
the objects of many curious glances.

"Mr. Edmonds said to ask for him," Laura faltered, when the line halted
at the side door.

"Oh--Ah," said the young man who was on guard. He turned to look for
that gentleman, and Laura glancing backward, felt like a kite with a
long, embarrassing tail, which stretched apparently to the upper street.

What a relief it was to hear a genial voice saying,

"Oh, _made