d watched the smiling face before
her with wondering eyes, till the girl added, with sudden color in her
cheeks:

"Ah, you've done so many kind things in your life, you don't remember
the little errand girl from Madame Tifany's who stole a rose in your
hall, and how you gave her rubber boots and cake and flowers, and were
so good to her she couldn't forget it if she lived to be a hundred."

"But you are so changed," began Belle, who did faintly recollect that
little incident in her happy life.

"Yes, I had a fall and hurt myself so that I shall always be lame."

And Lizzie went on to tell how Madame had dismissed her in a rage; how
she lay ill till Mrs. Brown sent her to the hospital; and how for a year
she had suffered much alone, in that great house of pain, before one of
the kind visitors had befriended her.

While hearing the story of the five years, that had been so full of
pleasure, ease and love for herself, Belle forgot her errand, and,
sitting beside Lizzie, listened with pitying eyes to all she told of her
endeavors to support herself by the delicate handiwork she loved.

"I'm very happy now," ended Lizzie, looking about the little bare room
with a face full of the sweetest content. "I get nearly work enough to
pay my way, and Estelle sends me some when she has more than she can do.
I've learned to do it nicely, and it is so pleasant to sit here and make
flowers instead of trudging about in the wet with other people's hats.
Though I do sometimes wish I was able to trudge, one gets on so slowly
with crutches."

A little sigh followed the words, and Belle put her own plump hand on
the delicate one that held the crutch, saying, in her cordial young
voice:

"I'll come and take you to drive sometimes, for you are too pale, and
you'll get ill sitting here at work day after day. Please let me; I'd
love to; for I feel so idle and wicked when I see busy people like you
that I reproach myself for neglecting my duty and having more than my
share of happiness."

Lizzie thanked her with a look, and then said, in a tone of interest
that was delightful to hear:

"Tell about the wreath you want; I should so love to do it for you, if I
can."

Belle had forgotten all about it in listening to this sad little story
of a girl's life. Now she felt half ashamed to talk of so frivolous a
matter till she remembered that it would help Lizzie; and, resolving to
pay for it as never garland was paid for before, she entered u