a's own fine cambric nightdresses, and
exclaimed:

"Look here, I say! I can't get into this thing! Why, look at me and look
at it! You might's well try to squeeze a pumpkin into a pint pot, as me in
it!"

Mrs. Force saw, and recognized the dilemma. The stout woman could not wear
one of her night robes; and, if not one of hers, certainly not one of Miss
Meeke's, or of either the young girls'--all of which were smaller than her
own. What was to be done now?

The lady stood confounded for a moment, and then a bright thought struck
her.

"I will find one to fit you, and bring it," she said.

"That's you!" exclaimed the woman.

Elfrida Force turned away and went into her own room to get the wax taper
which her husband had carried there, and then she went up into the garret
and waked up old Aunt Lucy, who was even stouter than Mrs. Anglesea, and
who had a treasure that was the pride of her heart--a small chest, full of
fine, snow-white underclothing, that was laid up in lavender, and only
taken out to be shown to acquaintances, but never worn.

When Luce was roused out of her sleep, to see her mistress standing over
her, with a taper in her hand, she was frightened half out of her wits
at--she knew not what, but she instinctively gasped out:

"It's a habit dey gibs deirselves--nuffin' 'tall but a habit dey gibs
deirselves!"

"Luce, wake up! I want you to do me a favor."

"Yes, mist'ess! It's a hab----" But a wide gape cut off her proverb.

"Luce! I want you to be so kind as to lend Mrs. Anglesea one of your best,
new nightdresses," said the lady.

"Yes, mist'ess, nightgowns. It a hab----You!" with another yawn.

It was full ten minutes before the lady could bring the half-sleeping
woman to a consciousness of what was wanted.

Then, indeed, Luce was all attention and alertness, proud to accommodate
the visitor. She went to her chest and opened it, filling the room with
the fragrance of sweet herbs, and she selected her finest gown, "the one
trimmed with torture lace," as she called it, meaning torchon, and she
offered to take it herself down to the stranger. But Mrs. Force would not
permit her to do that, and, with the gown over her arm, she went
downstairs and into the room of her guest.

"Now, then, this here is something like a gownd," said Mrs. Anglesea,
admiringly. "And, oh, sakes! don't it smell sweet! Hoome! Ah-h-h!" she
exclaimed, pressing the garment up to her face and strongly inhaling its
fragranc