ars. Their father and mother were away
on a long visit now, so the children were living in the old farmhouse with
an aunt of their father's to take care of them. Gladys's mother thought it
would be a pleasant change for her in the June weather, and it was an
attractive idea to Gladys to think of giving these country cousins a sight
of her dainty self, her fine clothes, and perhaps she would take them one
or two old toys that she liked the least; but the coming of Vera put the
toy idea completely out of her head. What would Faith say to a doll who
could talk!

Gladys was in haste now for the time to come to take the train; and as Vera
was well supplied with various costumes, the doll was soon arrayed, like
her little mamma, in pretty summer street-dress and ready to start.

Gladys's father had a guest to-day, so his wife remained at home with him,
and Ellen took charge of the birthday excursion.

Driving to the station and during the hour's ride on the train, Gladys was
in gay spirits, chattering about her new doll and arranging its pretty
clothes, and each time Vera uttered her words, the child would laugh, and
Ellen laughed with her. Gladys was a girl ten years old, but to the maid
she was still a baby, and although Ellen thought she saw the child's
parents making mistakes with her every day, she, like them, was so relieved
when Gladys was good-natured that she joined heartily in the little girl's
pleasure now over her birthday present.

"Won't Faith's eyes open when she sees Vera?" asked Gladys gayly.

"I expect they will," returned Ellen. "What have you brought with you for
her and her brother?"

The child shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing. I meant to but I forgot it,
because I was so pleased with Vera. Isn't her hair sweet, Ellen?" and
Gladys twisted the soft, golden locks around her fingers.

"Yes, but it would have been nice to bring something for those children.
They don't have so much as you do."

"Of course not. I don't believe they have much of anything. You know
they're poor. Mother sends them money sometimes, so it's all right." And
Gladys poked the point of her finger within Vera's rosy lips and touched
her little white teeth.

Ellen shook her head and Gladys saw it and pouted. "Why didn't _you_ think
of it, then, or mother?" she asked.

"You won't have somebody to think for you all your life," returned Ellen.
"You'd better be beginning to think about other people yourself, Gladys.
What's that it