elf had
been away, and she had had one every winter and summer. Poor Faith!
no wonder she looked so shabby. It was not entirely from her own
carelessness then.

But Faith, blissfully unconscious of the thoughts passing through her
sister's mind, had torn off the wrapper from the parcel, and was already
slipping her arm into her new treasure. "Doesn't it look nice," she
cried, pirouetting before the glass. "I must go and show it to mother and
father, and the children," and she danced away to her mother's room, and
even to the kitchen to show Mary.

Audrey remained where she was, gazing thoughtfully down into her trunk.
She suddenly felt ashamed that she should possess so much, while Faith,
who worked so hard, possessed so little. She thought of all the dresses
lying in her box at that moment, the soft grey cashmere, the dark blue
serge, the green tweed, the new blue muslin, and the cotton ones, white,
blue, and green.

"I wish my dresses would fit Faith. I would give her one--unless she has
enough already--and I don't suppose she has." She was still standing in
the same spot, and still thinking, when Faith danced into the room again.

"Oh, Audrey, they all think it beautiful, and daddy says he hopes I will
be able to have a new hat this summer." Then catching sight of her
sister's grave face. "How are you getting on? Can you find room for all
your things? You can have all my pegs but one--one will be enough for
me."

"Haven't you many frocks?" asked Audrey. She spoke a little gruffly,
but it was from shyness, and the thought of what she was about to do.

"I have this one," said Faith cheerfully, "this is my best--and an old one
I wear in the mornings. I was to have had a new one, but the roof had to
be mended, and it cost an awful lot. I wish this skirt was blue instead
of brown, it would look so nice with my new blue coat, wouldn't it?"

"I have a blue skirt that you can have. I have two, a blue serge and a
blue cloth. You shall have the blue cloth, it is rather short for me,
so it ought to do nicely for you."

Faith could hardly believe her ears. "Oh, Audrey!" she gasped, "do you
really mean it; but why should you give up your things? You may want
them, and I don't mind being shabbier than you are. I don't really.
You see the eldest is always the best-dressed."

"But I mind," cried Audrey. "I can't go about nicely dressed, and you
in--in rags almost."

She did not mean to speak ungraciou