there's something here in Albert Street," said her mother,
"which I've got, and you've got, and even Dottie and Susie have too,
which is worth more, and costs more, and does more good than all those
things, and which no one could buy, if he were the richest man in the
world."

At another time Iris would have paid attention to what her mother said;
but now, although she heard the words, her mind was too full of Paradise
Court to make any attempt to think of their meaning. She could only say
to herself that she was to go quite away from Albert Street for a whole
month--away from the noise and worry, and needlework and ugliness, to a
place where birds sang, and flowers bloomed, and one might be idle all
the day long.

STORY THREE, CHAPTER 2.

PARADISE COURT.

"No price is set on the lavish summer, June may be had by the poorest
comer."--_Lowell_.

Paradise Court, where Mrs Fotheringham lived, was not very far from a
small country town. Far enough, however, and sufficiently surrounded by
its own garden and meadows, to prevent any vulgar sounds of toil and
traffic from penetrating to it.

Mrs Fotheringham disliked the sight of poverty and dirt as much as the
noise of hurry and bustle. "All she wanted," she said, "was peace and
quietness," and she seldom stirred beyond the gates which opened to the
high-road from her own grounds. Here, in the fine summer days, she was
contented to take her exercise, to admire her flowers, to consult and
scold her gardener, and to poke viciously at the weeds with her
walking-stick. She was quite an old lady, a widow for many years, and
lived alone, except for the society of a green parrot and a companion.
The parrot might more justly have been called the "companion" than the
lady who filled that post, for it was an old and valued friend, and in
perfect sympathy with its mistress; the companion, on the contrary, was
changed very often, and seldom stayed with her more than six months.
"And yet," Mrs Fotheringham was used to observe, "there was really _so_
little she required!" There were only four indispensable things, and
for the rest she was not difficult to please. On these points, however,
she must be satisfied: The lady must have sound views on Church and
State; she must have seen good society; she must read aloud well; and
she must understand how to make chicken curry, in case the cook was
changed. Strange to say, however, the ladies were constantly found
wanting i