rea, and you?" asked Sara.

"Ah," said Petrea, "I'll just furbish up my gauze dress, and keep a
little money for some ribbon, and then all is done; and as for the rest,
it does not matter how I look. Be only contented, Sara, and do as I bid
you."

"But ought I? Can I?" asked Sara. "Ah, no, Petrea, I could not do it!
Your little all! And then it would not be sufficient."

"Ah, yes," said Petrea, "make it sufficient. We can go to Louise's
shops, and one gets everything so cheap there. I shall never be happy
again if you do not do as I pray you. See now, you are my good, dear
Sara! Thank you, thank you! Ah, now am I so light at heart! Now I need
not trouble myself about the blessed toilet. And that is a great gain
for me!"

The bird that sits on the swinging bough is not lighter of mood than
Petrea was as she went out with Sara, who was far less cheerful, but who
still had never been more friendly towards Petrea.

It went thus with Petrea's purchase of ribbon:--In passing a
gingerbread-booth she saw a little chimney-sweeper, who was casting the
most loving glances on some purple-red apples, and Petrea, with the
money in her hand, could not resist the desire of making him a present
of them, and felt more than rewarded as she saw the boy's white teeth
shining forth from their black neighbourhood, first in smiles at her,
and then as they attacked the juicy fruit. Her own mouth watered at it,
and as she now cast her eyes round the booth, and saw such beautiful
bergamotte-pears--the favourite fruit of her mother--and such
magnificent oranges, that would please Leonore so much!--the result was,
that Petrea's reticule was filled with fruit, and the ribbon--for that
there was not now money enough.

"But," consoled herself Petrea, "Louise has such a deal of old
ribbon--she can very well lend me some." Petrea thought like all bad
managers.

When Sara and Petrea returned from the shopping expedition, Louise saw
directly that the things which Sara had bought must far have exceeded
her means; and besides this, Louise justly thought that they were
unseemly for a young girl of her station. She saw without saying one
word the white silk; the blue gauze for the tunic; the beautiful white
and yellow asters for the hair, and the other ornaments which Sara, not
without vanity, displayed.

"And what have you bought, Petrea?" now asked Louise; "let us see your
bargains."

Petrea replied, with a blush, that she--had bought nothing ye