assed through her mind.

"Thank you," said that lady. "May I have her to-morrow?"

"To-morrow. H'm," said Mrs. Candy. "I am afraid not to-morrow. I should
wish to make a little preparation, before the child goes to make such a
visit. She has been nowhere but at home this summer."

"Let me beg that you will not wait for any such matter," said Mrs.
Laval. "Send her to me just as she is. I have particular reasons for
liking her to come to me immediately. If she needs anything, trust me
to supply it. Shall she come to-morrow?"

You _do_ take a good deal for granted very easily! thought Mrs. Candy.
Then aloud--

"I should like to fit her up a little first The child has not been away
from home, and in mourning----"

"Won't you trust me to see that she does not want for anything? I
assure you, I will not neglect my charge."

"You are very kind," said Mrs. Candy; while she thought in her heart,
You are very presuming!

"Then you will indulge me?" said Mrs. Laval, graciously.

"If it must be so," said Mrs. Candy, doubtful.

"Thank you!" said her visitor. "My errand is my excuse for troubling
you this morning--and so early!"

Mrs. Candy felt a twinge. She had not thought it was early; she had not
thought about it.

"Your place is looking beautiful," she said, as her visitor rose. "It
is the prettiest place in Shadywalk."

"Oh, I am not in Shadywalk," said Mrs. Laval. "I am on the Millbrook.
Yes, it is pretty; but it is terribly hard to get servants. They won't
come from New York, and there are none here."

"Not many good ones," Mrs. Candy assented.

"None that will do for me. I am in despair. I have engaged a Swiss
family at last. I expect them to arrive very soon."

"From New York?"

"In New York. They are coming to me from Vevay. Father, mother, and two
daughters; and I believe a boy too. They will know nothing except
farmwork, when they come; but they do make excellent servants, and so
trustworthy."

"Will you want so many?"

"I will find use for them. To-morrow then. Thank you. Good morning."

Mrs. Candy stood, looking after her visitor. She was so elegantly
dressed, and her veil was of such rich lace. She must want a goodly
number of women in her household, Mrs. Candy allowed to herself, if she
often indulged in dresses of fine muslin ruffled like that. And Mrs.
Candy sighed. One must have money for those things, she reflected; and
not a good deal of money, but a great deal. A good deal would not do