eas, and suppose we discuss them to-night; and then to-morrow we
can go to Nortonbury to buy the materials for the dresses."

"But we can't possibly make our own dresses," exclaimed Hester.

"Oh, yes, we can; they'll be twice as original. If you can get in a
couple of good workwomen to help us, the dresses can easily be made at
home," exclaimed Annie, her eyes sparkling.

"Hester!" cried Molly, suddenly springing to her feet, "if we are to go
to the Towers this morning, don't you think we had better start?"

Hester stood up.

"The day is such a delightful one," she said, "that I think we will just
walk across the fields. I'll run up to my room and fetch my hat and
gloves, and bring yours down at the same time, Molly."

Five minutes later the two girls had set off. It was now holiday time at
the Towers, and almost immediately on their arrival they were greeted by
a whole bevy of children, who rushed up the avenue in a state of
breathless excitement.

"What do you think, Molly?" exclaimed Kitty, stammering almost in her
eagerness. "Oh, you'll never guess, for it is so uncommon and
unexpected--father and mother both went to London this morning?"

"Both--to London?" exclaimed Molly, stepping back a pace or two, while a
look of surprise, and even consternation, spread itself over her round,
fair face.

"Dear me, yes!" exclaimed Nell.

"And they were awfully jolly about it," exclaimed Boris; "and mother has
promised to bring me a rabbit."

"And me a dove," screamed Kitty.

"And perhaps I'm to have a shaggy pony all to myself," exclaimed Nell;
"but it's only perhaps. It's perhaps, too, with you, Boris, and you,
Kitty; you oughtn't to forget that."

"Oh, bother perhapses!" exclaimed Kitty. "I know I'm to have my rabbit;
he's to have lop-ears and long fur, and he's to be snow-white, if
possible. I described him fully to mother last night when she came to
tuck me up. I kept pulling my eyes open to stay awake for the purpose."

"And I told mother that I wished for a ring-dove," said Boris. "I want a
ring-dove awfully, for there's an empty cage in the attic that will just
fit it. Oh, I do hope, I do hope, that it will come!"

He looked almost sad as he spoke and glanced at Nell, who was not
looking at him.

"Nell, come here," exclaimed Molly suddenly. "Hester, you can explain to
Boris and Kitty what you have come about, and they can take you round
and show you the ball-room. Come along, Nell, I want to talk to yo