he look fine?"

"Splendid," said Deborah, but only half-heartedly. She was so sorry Tom
had not a tie on, and that she had not made herself look as nice as Audrey
did. And when there stepped out of the train two trim figures in spotless
blue cotton frocks, and a boy in an equally spotless grey flannel suit,
Debby could not face them, but turned and raced off the platform and up
the street as fast as her legs could take her. Too fast, indeed, for her
slippers, for they dropped off very soon, and she hadn't time to stop and
pick them up. It was easier to run along in stockinged feet, than in
shoes that slopped off at the heels with every step she took. It was
rather painful work, though, and Debby was glad when she reached the
shelter of home.

"Oh, Faith!" she cried, almost falling into the room. "They have come,
and they are so--so tidy, and pretty! They have on blue frocks, and big
hats with cornflowers on them; and, oh, please do try and make me look
tidy and pretty too!"

Faith was standing before the glass, tying up her hair. She had been
taking unusual pains with her appearance to-day, and she was rather late--
which was not unusual. Joan, looking a perfect darling in her little long
white frock, was sitting on the bed, playing with reels of cotton.

"Where are your shoes?" asked Faith, looking in dismay at Debby's
much-darned stockings.

"I lost them--down the village. They fell off when I was running.
Somebody will bring them back all right," she added, consolingly,
"they've got my name inside."

It was Irene Vivian who brought them back. "Your brother said they were
yours," she smiled, as she handed the shabby brown shoes to the blushing
Debby.

"I am so sorry," said Debby, apologetically. "Tom should have carried
them. You see, I'd lost the buttons, and they dropped off when I was
running. I--I couldn't stay to go back, I was in--in rather a hurry."

She took the shoes, and was putting them on as they were. "I'm going to
wear them to-day, 'cause they're comfortabler than my best ones, and the
heather and brambles and things would scratch up my best ones," she added,
confidentially. "I am going up on the moor to tea--we are all going.
All except Joan." Has Audrey told you?

"I am glad of that, only I'd like Joan to go too. But you can't walk
comfortably without any buttons on your shoes. If you could find me two,
and a needle and cotton, and a thimble, I would sew them on for you.
O