, was paid very unexpectedly,
and I feel as if I had fallen heir to a dukedom.

"It is enough to enable you to make your visit to Washington and to
pay your board in the room next to mine for two weeks. Maybe there
will be enough to get the material for a simple evening gown, and
you can make it while you are here, or at home. It depends on
whether you go first to Mrs. Avery or to me. Write to her at once,
please, so that I may know when to expect you.

"Oh, my dear child, you do not know the unalloyed pleasure I have
already had in anticipating not only your visit to me, but your
good times in Washington. I feel that your enjoyment of the outing,
which I would have enjoyed so intensely at your age, will, in a
way, compensate me for my starved, unsatisfied girlhood, and I am
sure you are too generous to refuse me the pleasure.

"Enclosed you will find the check and a card on which I have
written all necessary directions as to railroad connections,
time-tables, etc."

* * * * *

No girl of fifteen could have been more enthusiastic in her rapturous
expressions of delight than Judith, as she danced into her mother's
room, waving the check. Amy looked on in amazement.

"I didn't know that sister could get so excited," she said to her
mother, afterwards.

"It is the first great pleasure she has ever had," said Mrs. Windham,
with a sigh. "It means far more to her than a trip to Europe would to
Marguerite. We all must help her to make the most of it."

It seemed to Judith that all Westbrooke had heard of her proposed
journey before night. Neighbours ran in to talk it over and proffer
their assistance. The little old trunk that had gone on her mother's
wedding journey was brought down, and the family dropped various
contributions into it, from Mrs. Windham's well-preserved black silk
skirt, to Edith's best stockings. Amy brought her coral pin and only
lace-trimmed handkerchief, begging Judith to wear them when she went to
the White House. "Then I can tell the girls they've seen the President
of the United States," she said, proudly.

Lillian, next in age to Judith, presented her outright with her
Christmas gloves. "Mittens are good enough for Westbrooke," she said.
"Just bring me a leaf from Mount Vernon and one from Arlington for my
memory book. I can hardly realize that you are really going to see such
fam