front windows
of the living-room, and Betty obeyed a parting charge to tell her
companion "about seeing the Queen and the times when she used to go and
see the Prince o' Wales's girls," so that the last of the morning was
soon gone.

"Such folks has their aches an' pains just like us," commented sister
Sarah at last. "I expected, though, they was more pompous-behaved than
you seem to describe. Well, they have to think o' their example, and so
does others, for that matter. I wonder'f'mongst all they've learned to
do, anybody ever showed 'em how to braid or hook 'em a nice mat. I
s'pose not, but with all their hired help an' all their rags that must
come of a year's wear, 't would be a shame for them to buy."

"I never saw any rugs just like these," said Betty, turning quickly to
look out of the window. "I don't believe people make them except in
America. But the princesses know how to do a good many things." It was
very funny to Betty to think of their hooking rugs for themselves,
however, but Serena's sister did not appear to suspect it.

"Land, won't I have a good time picking over those big full bags!" said
she, looking at Aunt Barbara's rag-bags with delight, and forgetting the
employments of royalty. "Your aunt's real generous, she is so! I sort
out everything into heaps on the spare floor and if I have too much
white I just reach for the dyepot. I do enjoy myself over them
piece-bags."

"I don't know what would become of Aunt Barbara and Aunt Mary without
Serena," said Betty, "but I don't see how you can spare her all the
time."

"She wouldn't be spared by them," said sister Sarah, putting her head on
one side like a bird. "When I was first left alone after marm's decease,
folks thought she'd ought to come back, but I says No. She wouldn't be
contented now same's she was before she went, and I should get wuss and
wuss if I was waited on stiddy. 'No!' says I to every one, 'let me be
and let her be. She's free to come, and she's puttin' by her good
earnin's. I wept all night when she first went off to Tideshead,
seventeen year old, to be maid to Madam Leicester, but I knew from that
day she was set to go her way same's I was mine. But she's be'n a good
sister to me; we never passed an hour unfriendly, and 't ain't all can
say the same."

"No, indeed," said Betty cheerfully.

"Queen Victori' knows what it is to be alone," continued the little
sister. "I always read how she was a real mourner. Now I seem to e