ell you, girls," said Lucy Grey, "the old dowager will shine
when she gets my bonnet on!" and trying it on over her chestnut curls,
she added, "I half-wish I was a downfallen lady myself,--a
haberdasher's daughter from England! Oh, I hope I shall be a widow
some time! Widows' caps are so becoming!"

"Well," replied Grace, laughing, "do your best for Goody Horn, and
maybe she'll let you have 'dear Walter.' Then you'll be a widow
soon,--he's so feeble."

"Oh, I wish I had the dressing of her! 'She'd surprise herself,' as
the Dutchman said. I'd put a canary-coloured pompon and a white
aigrette in that bonnet, and"--here she slipped a scarlet bird out of
her own hat and stuck it into a fold of the crape Lucy was laying on to
the old fashioned close frame--"I'd make her an upper skirt with a
tie-back, get scarlet stockings and low shoes, and"----

"Pho! you'd make the dear old soul look like Mother Hubbard!" cried
another.

"No," said Grace; "but she looks now like

"Little Dame Crump, with her brand-new broom;"

and no doubt Walter looks either like Mother Hubbard's dog, or--or I
don't know what."

"Oh, by-the-way, did you notice a violin on the bureau? Whoever gets
'dear Walter' will have a chance to do all the family dancing. The
dowager's too old, and Walter's too lame; but there, what stuff I'm
talking; it's well mother isn't within hearing. She won't let me have
any sport. But I do think old folks are so comical! I'll do anything
in the world to help them, though."

They worked on some time, and in the real kindness which was hidden
under this nonsense they laid plans for the dear old stranger's future
comfort.

"Why, girls, it's time she was here now!"

"Nora," called Grace, as a girl passed the door, "when an old lady
comes, send her right up stairs."

"There was an old person here an hour ago, and as you told me not to
let any one in who asked for you for an hour, I told her to sit down in
the hall. I suppose she's there now. I forgot all about her," was the
reply.

Grace flew down, but there was no one there.

"That was some old beggar who got tired of waiting. I'm sure she'll be
here soon," said Lucy.

But she did not come, and they grew tired of waiting to try on the
dress and hat. So they resolved to go, all four together, the next
day, to the "opening at Madam Horn's," and carry the things themselves.

They did so; but when the "dowager" opened the door at their knock,
they