buying some jelly or
something for little Ruth Newton. We could stop there on our way home,
and you could send it up with your love."

Nan nodded heartily. It always pleased her to give. She enjoyed, too,
the thought of getting a glimpse of the shop-windows, which were
already beginning to take on a look of holiday gorgeousness. So
down-town they went, and Miss Blake not alone bought the jelly, but so
many other things as well, that presently Nan began to have a feeling
that for such a poor woman the governess was inclined to be extravagant.

She told Delia so when they were alone together that evening, Miss
Blake having gone upstairs to write some letters.

"Oh, I guess you needn't worry," the woman said.

"But you don't know how many things she bought," persisted Nan. "I'm
sure she can't afford it. Just think, a woman that works for her
living the way she has to! But do you know, Delia, I believe there's
something mysterious about her, anyway. She seems to see right into
your mind--what you're thinking about; and every once in a while she
lets out a hint that the next minute she looks as if she wished she
hadn't said. I've noticed it lots and lots of times, and I'm sure
she's trying to hide something. What do you s'pose it is? What fun it
would be if she were a princess in disguise."

"Well, she ain't," Delia almost snapped. "She's just a good little
woman that's trying to do her duty as far as I can make out, and if she
spends money you must remember she has only herself to support."

CHAPTER IX

HAVING HER OWN WAY

"I know just the kind I want, and I won't wear any other," said Nan,
irritably.

Miss Blake made no reply, and the girl sauntered off to another part of
the store, and pretended to be examining a case of trimmed bonnets,
which she could not see because her eyes were half-blind with
rebellious tears. What right had any one to tell her what sort of a
hat she ought to get! If her father was paying for it, she guessed it
was nobody else's business to say anything.

Miss Blake held in her hand a handsome, wide-brimmed felt hat, trimmed
simply with fine ribbon and a generous bunch of quills.

"It's very girlish and suitable, ma'am!" the saleswoman said, as she
turned away to get another model.

After a moment Nan came hurrying back to the governess' side.

"Horrid old thing!" she said in a low voice, flinging her hand out with
a gesture of disgust toward the despised hat. "I