der on Mary.

"If you would allow me, ma'am," said Mary, "I should like much to try
whether I could not find something that would suit you and your idea
too. However well you might look in that, you would owe it no thanks.
The worst is, I know nothing of the London shops."

"I should think not!" remarked Folter, with emphasis.

"I would send you in the brougham, if I thought it was of any use,"
said Hesper. "Folter could take you to the proper places."

"Folter would be of no use to me," said Mary. "If your coachman knows
the best shops, that will be enough."

"But there's no time to make up anything," objected Hesper,
despondingly, not the less with a glimmer of hope in her heart.

"Not like that," answered Mary; "but there is much there as unnecessary
as it is ugly. If Folter is good at her needle--"

"I won't take up a single stitch. It would be mere waste of labor,"
cried Folter.

"Then, please, ma'am," said Mary, "let Folter have that dress ready,
and, if I don't succeed, you have something to wear."

"I hate it. I won't go if you don't find me another."

"Some people may like it, though I don't," said Mary.

"Not a doubt of that!" said Folter.

"Ring the bell," said her mistress.

The woman obeyed, and the moment afterward repented she had not given
warning on the spot, instead. The brougham was ordered immediately, and
in a few minutes Mary was standing at a counter in a large shop,
looking at various stuffs, of which the young man waiting on her soon
perceived she knew the qualities and capabilities better than he.

She had set her heart on carrying out Hesper's idea, but in better
fashion; and after great pains taken, and no little trouble given, left
the shop well satisfied with her success. And now for the greater
difficulty!

She drove straight to Letty's lodging, and, there dismissing the
brougham, presented herself, with a great parcel in her arms, for the
second time that day, at the door of her room, as unexpected as the
first, and even more to the joy of her solitary friend.

She knew that Letty was good at her needle. And Letty was, indeed, even
now, by fits, fond of using it; and on several occasions, when her
supply of novels had for a day run short, had asked a dressmaker who
lived above to let her help her for an hour or two: before Mary had
finished her story, she was untying the parcel, and preparing to
receive her instructions. Nor had they been at work many minutes, when
Let