em through the half-open door, were struck with the sincerest
admiration and awe. It was indeed wonderful as well as deafening to
hear the noise that could be got out of those three instruments; they
seemed to be engaged in a sort of battle in which first one was
triumphant and then another.

"It's a _little_ loud for this room," observed Mr Buckle complacently,
"but it'll sound very well at the concert." Bella felt sure that it
would be far the best thing in the programme, not only because the
execution was spirited and brilliant but on account of the stylish
appearance of the performers. Mr Buckle had been persuaded to wear his
volunteer uniform on the occasion, in which, with his drum slung from
his shoulders and the triangle fastened to a chair, so that he could
kick it with one foot, he made a very imposing effect.

Agnetta and Bella had coaxed their mother into giving them new dresses
of a bright blue colour called "electric", which, being made up by
themselves in the last fashion, were calculated to attract all eyes.

These preparations, whilst they excited and interested Lilac, also made
her a little envious. She began to wish she had something pretty to put
on in honour of the concert, and even to have a faint hope that her aunt
might give her a new dress too. But this did not seem even to occur to
Mrs Greenways, and Lilac soon gave up all thoughts of it with a sigh.
Her Sunday frock was very shabby, but after all just to stand up amongst
the other children it would not show much. She took it out of her box
and looked at it: perhaps there was something she could do to smarten it
up a little. It certainly hung in a limp flattened manner across the
bed, and was even beginning to turn a rusty colour; nothing would make
it look any different. Would one of her cottons be better, Lilac
wondered anxiously. But none of the children would wear cottons, she
knew--they all put on their Sunday best for the concert. The black
frock must do. She could put a clean frill in the neck, and brush her
hair very neatly, but that was all. There was no one she remembered to
take much notice what she wore, so it did not matter.

The evening came. Everyone had practised their parts and brought them
to a high pitch of perfection; and except Mr Busby, whose appearance
was still uncertain, everyone was prepared to fill their places in the
programme.

"You won't find two better-looking girls than that," said Mrs Greenways