h, here is a work-basket. I will take what I want from here. Shall I?"

"Oh, oh!" gasped Debby, "that is Audrey's. I don't think we had better
touch that--she is dreadfully particular. She gen'rally keeps it up in
her room; but she brought her best things down here to-day, 'cause you
were coming."

"How kind of her," said Irene. She felt somewhat embarrassed by these
confidences. "And I am sure then she would not mind my using her
work-basket. I won't hurt it the least little bit in the world."

She looked round for Audrey, to ask her permission, but she could not see
her, and helped herself to a thimble, and needle and cotton. It never
entered her head that there could be any reason why she should not do so.
Mr. Carlyle had gone off to collect the baskets, Audrey had run upstairs
to see if her mother was ready and able to see the guests for a little
while before the start. Faith was showing Joan to Daphne. The two boys,
very anxious in their first shyness to have something to do, had followed
Mr. Carlyle.

When Audrey came down, Irene was putting the finishing stitches to the
second shoe. Audrey looked shocked and displeased. "Oh, Debby, how dare
you!" she cried, scarcely knowing, in her indignation, what she was
saying.

"You should say 'how dare you' to me," laughed Irene, as she returned the
thimble and needle to their places. "I asked if I might sew on Debby's
buttons, and I used your basket. I hope you don't mind. I haven't done
any harm, I think."

Audrey did mind, but she could hardly say so. "I never did know such
children," she cried, trying to conceal her vexation. Debby's shoes were
decidedly shabby, yet she could not have displayed them more thoroughly.
It almost seemed as though she took a pride in their shabbiness.
"They never seem able to keep a button on for two days together. I really
think they pull them off on purpose."

"Oh, Audrey! I don't, you know I don't. I told you days ago that one was
off, and the other one was loose--and then the loose one came off too."

Irene strolled over and looked out of the window. "What a jolly garden,"
she said, anxious to put an end to the discussion. "I wish we had a large
plain piece of grass like that. At grandfather's the turf is all cut up
with flower-beds, and one can hardly step for ornamental flower pots--and
things. We three never seem able to do anything without damaging
something."

Audrey's face cleared a little. "Well,