t's stiff as a poker.
Do you suppose I want to have just bunched-up bows with some spikes
stuck in the middle to trim my hat! And all one color, too! I guess
not!"

The governess bit her lip. "Perhaps we may be able to find something
more to your fancy," she said. "But plumes are expensive and
perishable, and if you have too many colors your hat will look vulgar."

"I hate this place anyhow," went on Nan, disdainfully. "Bigelow's!
Who ever thought of going to Bigelow's?"

"Your mother did," said Miss Blake, quickly. "That is, Delia says she
did. And I myself know it to be one of the oldest and best firms in
the city. One can always be sure that one is getting good quality for
one's money here."

"I never was in the place before," blurted out Nan, "and I despise
their hats--every one of them. If you won't let me go to Sternberg's,
where they have things I like, I won't get anything at all, so there!"

She suddenly let her voice fall, for the sales-woman was back again
with a fresh assortment of shapes to select from.

Miss Blake placed the hat she held gently upon a table and began to
examine the others carefully, Nan standing by in sullen silence.

"This is a pretty one--this with the tips, don't you think so?" the
governess asked, setting it on her hand and letting it revolve slowly
while she regarded it critically with her head on one side.

Nan gave a grunt of dissatisfaction. What she wanted was a flaring,
turned-up brim, with a dash of red velvet underneath and a
bird-of-paradise on top, caught in a mesh of red and yellow ribbons.
She had seen something on this order in Sternberg's window, and it had
struck her fancy at once.

The governess hesitated, and then put down the hat she held.

"Very well. We will go to Sternberg's," she said, quietly, to Nan, in
an undertone which the saleswoman could not distinguish. The girl
started briskly for the door. Miss Blake remained behind a moment, and
then followed after.

Now that she was to have her own way Nan was restored to good humor,
and kept up a stream of chatter until they reached Sternberg's.

"There! Isn't that a beauty?" she demanded at last, indicating the hat
in the window.

Miss Blake, with difficulty, concealed a shudder.

"It seems to me rather showy. But tastes differ, you know. I can't
say it suits me exactly. Still, if you are pleased--you are the one to
wear it, not I."

The hat was bought and Nan was radiant. She ins