ined to it, and it was cut much
shorter behind than before, in order to display to advantage the
pert red heels whereon that antique Wimple aforetime exalted herself.
"With some trifling alterations," said Miss Wimple to herself,
"this will do nicely for me; and my delaine--which is not so very bad,
after all--a little cleaning will do wonders for it--will look
sweetly appropriate on the Widow Morris, while her outfit is making
in New York."

So Miss Wimple let down the dress behind, by piecing it in the back
just below the waist; and from the generous cape she made a basque
to hide the alteration; and some stains, like iron-mould, on the
skirt, she covered with three flounces, made of some fine crape that
was left from her mother's funeral.

"_But, by your leave, where was this 'silken wonder' when your
unhandy heroine was casting about her for a substitute for the
quilted petticoat_?"

Anywhere but in her mind. Of the _round-aboutness_ of her directness
you have had examples enough already; nothing could be more romantic
than her simplest realities, and that which would seem most
out-of-the-way to another woman was often "handiest" to her. So,
when you ask me, Why did not Sally Wimple sooner think of her
great-grandmother's dress? my easiest answer is, Because she _was_
Sally Wimple.

When Miss Wimple first put on the new dress, in Madeline's presence,
Madeline smiled again, for she thought she understood; and Miss Wimple
smiled also, for she knew no one could understand.

Then Miss Wimple broke the news to Madeline, by telling her that
"an old friend of her father's," a wealthy Mr. Osgood, of New York,
was in want of a governess for his two daughters, and had written
to her on the subject;--(a not very improbable story; for Madeline
could not but be aware that in the conscientious and proud little
bookseller was the making of a very respectable "Jane Eyre," under
favorable circumstances;)--whereupon she had taken the liberty to
recommend a clever and accomplished friend of her own, one Mrs. Morris,
a widow,--"of course, that's you, Madeline,"--and Mr. Osgood had
accordingly done her the honor to offer the place to Mrs. Morris,
and, "with characteristic consideration and delicacy," had inclosed
a check, by way of an advance on her salary, which would be liberal,
to defray the expense of an outfit,--"and there it was." His writing
to her, Miss Wimple said, was a circumstance as strange as it was
fortunate; for,