to Hildegarde's mind; she began to unfasten
the box, which was her own, whispering at the same time into the ear of
her companion in distress.

"Oh! Oh, yes, certainly!" said the latter, also in a whisper. "Anything,
I am sure, that will give satisfaction! If you can only--"

"Stop her noise," was evidently what the patient saleswoman longed to
say; but she checked the words, and only gave Hildegarde an eloquent
glance, as she turned to meet a wild onset in demand of macaroons.

Perhaps Hildegarde's fingers trembled a little as she untied the narrow
blue ribbon that bound up her hopes; perhaps she was purposely slow,
collecting her thoughts and words. The stout lady fumed and fidgeted.
"You should never allow things to be tied in a hard knot! It should be
one of the first rules in a place like this, that boxes should be
fastened with india-rubber bands. Surely you know the usefulness of
india-rubber bands? I hope those Nuns are fresh. If you did not see them
come in, or speak to the person who brought them, how can you be sure
of their being fresh? Stale cakes are out of the question, you know;
nobody could think of enduring stale cakes; and Nuns, in particular,
must be eaten the same day they--"

"These are not Nuns, madam," said Hildegarde, as she opened the box.
"Perhaps you would like to see--"

"_Not Nuns!_ Then why did you tell me they were Nuns? What are they, I
should like to know? H'm! ha! very pretty! What do you call these?"

"Novices!" said Hildegarde, with a flash of inspiration.

"Aha! Novices, eh? Yes, yes! a good name, if they are--are they
something new? I have never seen them here before."

"Entirely new!" Hildegarde assured her. "This is the first box that has
ever been brought in."

"Eh? the first? Then how do you know they are good? How can you
conscientiously recommend them? I always expect conscientious treatment
here, you know."

"Will you try one?"

Hildegarde handed her the box; and she was soon crunching and nodding
and smiling, all at the same moment.

"De-licious! I assure you, delicious! something entirely new--Novices!
Why, they are exactly what I want for my party to-night. Much better
than Nuns,--Nuns have really become quite tiresome. What is the price of
the Novices?"

Hildegarde hesitated, and glanced at the saleswoman. The latter leaned
swiftly forward, looked, tasted a crumb,--

"Five cents apiece!" she said, quietly. Five! Hildegarde had thought of
three, and had