ps and vanities with which the store was crowded, was about carrying
it away, but first experimented as to its fit.

"O dear!" she cried, in dismay, "it is too short, and"--rummaging
through the box--"there is not another like it, and it is the only one I
want."

"How provoking!" sympathized Clara.

"I could very easily alter that," said Sallie, who was behind the
counter; "I make these up for the shop, and I'll be glad to fix this for
you, if you like it so much."

"Thanks. You are very kind. Can you send it up to-morrow?"

"This evening, if you wish it."

"Very good; I shall be your debtor."

"Well!" exclaimed Clara, as they turned away, this is the first time in
all my shopping I ever found a girl ready to put herself out to serve
one. They usually act as if they were conferring the most overwhelming
favor by condescending to wait upon you at all."

"Why, Clara, I'm sure I always find them civil."

"I know they seem devoted to you. I wonder why. Oh!"--laughing and
looking at her friend with honest admiration,--"it must be because you
are so pretty."

"Excellent,--how discerning you are!" smiled Francesca, in return.

If Clara had had a little more discernment, she would have discovered
that what wrought this miracle was a friendly courtesy, that never
failed to either equal or subordinate.

Six weeks after the Seventh had marched out of New York, Francesca,
sitting in her aunt's room, was roused from evidently painful thought by
the entrance of a servant, who announced, "If you please, a young woman
to see you."

"Name?"

"She gave none, miss."

"Send her up."

Sallie came in. "Bird of Paradise" Francesca had called her more than
once, she was so dashing and handsome; but the title would scarcely fit
now, for she looked poor, and sad, and woefully dispirited.

"Ah, Miss Sallie, is it you? Good morning."

"Good morning, Miss Ercildoune." She stood, and looked as though she had
something important to say. Presently Francesca had drawn it from
her,--a little story of her own sorrows and troubles.

"The reason I have come to you, Miss Ercildoune, when you are so nearly
a stranger, is because you have always been so kind and pleasant to me
when I waited on you at the store, and I thought you'd anyway listen to
what I have to say."

"Speak on, Sallie."

"I've been at Hyacinth's now, over four years, ever since I left school.
It's a good place, and they paid me well, but I had to keep two people