A little iron bed was sent down from the vicarage, and
sheets and blankets, a chair, and even a little square looking-glass
to hang on the wall. Huldah was in a perfect turmoil of glad
excitement. She thought her room perfectly beautiful, and from the
little window she could look right over the back garden, and away to
a great stretch of country beyond.

"I don't know what to do for a chest of drawers for you," said Mrs.
Perry, thoughtfully; "you ought to have something to put your clothes
in." But Huldah pooh-poohed the idea.

"Oh, I shan't want anything," she said, cheerfully; "you see I
haven't got any clothes."

"Ah, but wait," said Mrs. Perry, knowingly, then stopped abruptly,
and said no more. Huldah did not understand. "If I can sell some
baskets, I'll be able to get an apron or two," she said, gravely.
"I'd like fine to have some, but I could keep them on my chair."

Mrs. Perry smiled. "A box would be better. If I could get you a
nice big box, that would do for the time, wouldn't it?"

"Oh yes, that would do grand," agreed Huldah, readily, "but don't
you worry about it, ma'am. I've got to make my baskets first and
sell them, and then I'll have the aprons to make; there won't be any
need to worry till I've got them," she added, in her old-fashioned
thoughtful way. "Wouldn't it be lovely, ma'am," she added, a moment
later, "to have a new frock, a whole real new one?" It took a moment
for such a possibility to even enter her head. "A blue one," she
added, revelling in it, now it had come, "and a blue hat, too!
Oh my!" She looked at Mrs. Perry with clasped hands and eyes full
of rapture. "I've never had a new frock or hat, not in all my life.
I suppose some people do?"

"Yes, some do," agreed Mrs. Perry, gravely. Then a bright smile
passed over her face, and her eyes lighted up almost as eagerly as
Huldah's had, a moment before. Miss Carew's pony-cart had come
jingling down the lane, and had drawn up before the garden gate.

Huldah sprang forward gladly to open the door, but Mrs. Perry was at
it first. "I will go," she said, hastily, "I understand Miss Rose
wants me."

Huldah, puzzled and disappointed, did not move another step.
Through the open door she saw the dear fat pony, and longed to pat
him; she saw Miss Rose smiling and talking, and longed to be there to
receive one of her smiles. She saw her too lifting boxes and bundles
out of the pony-cart, and piling them in Mrs. Perry's arm