wo years old. My face,
neck, arms and feet had all the pretty wrinkles and dimples that adorn
that age; and the soft pink wax, delicately coloured, gave a very fair
notion of the tender pinky skin. So with very good taste my lady
milliners dressed me in a short full white India muslin frock over a
pale blue silk slip, trimmed the bodice and sleeves lavishly with
sashes, bows, and loops of the same, and tied a pretty blue ribbon
carelessly through my very natural curls. My attire was completed by
white open work socks, and blue kid shoes; but Maddy crowned all her
work by her last addition. Running hastily upstairs, she brought down a
little box of small pearl beads, and after being seated at a remote
table by herself for half an hour, while her friends were busily
employed in giving the finishing touches to another of our company, who
was attired as Red Riding Hood, she came suddenly forward, saying
gaily,--

"'I think I have added a last grace to _my_ doll that ought to be
irresistible, and make her the admired of all beholders.'

"And she showed on the tip of her finger a dainty little straw hat,
coquettishly trimmed with a band of blue velvet, with a drooping fringe
of blonde round the rim, having pearl drops to each point of the lace.

"I was duly admired, and on the eventful evening was considered the
prettiest doll on the tree, and many a little childish face cast longing
eyes upon me, vainly hoping I might fall to her lot. But mine was a
different destiny--a far higher one, as I imagined then! A dainty,
lace-bordered ticket on my skirt showed that I was intended for Lady
Alicia Wentworth, the little god-daughter of the lady of the house.
After the festive evening was over, with all its glare of bright lights,
and sounds of young voices and gay music, I was taken down from my proud
position, which had not been free from peril, owing to the dangerous
neighbourhood of the lighted tapers to my flimsy skirts. Little Lady
Alicia lived too far off, and was too fully engrossed with the gaieties
of her own immediate surroundings, to come to the party; and therefore I
was most carefully packed in silver paper and wool, and sent to her.

"My first little mistress was not by any means a very engaging child.
She was very sickly, which perhaps rendered her more fretful than she
would otherwise have been; but she would not have been so peevish,
except for the fact that, as an only child, she had been spoiled and
indulged to