delicious."

"All right," assented Lena, "I think he--will go."

"I think he will," agreed Helka. "He never fails me when I ask for
anything. Sam is ambitious."

She was bright and cheery again. Yes, they would take their walk, and
Cora would be out in the great, free, wide world once more.

"How do you manage to get such up-to-date clothes?" she asked Helka, as
she inspected the tailor-made walking dress of really good cut and
material.

"Why, I have a girl friend in New York who sends by express a new gown
each season. You see, it would not do for me to attract attention when
I am out in the grounds."

"But, if you did attract attention, would not that possibly help you to
get away?"

"My dear, the situation is very complex. You see, I have a respectable
lover, and I live every day in hopes of some time joining him. Should
our band get into disrepute, which it surely would do if discovered
here, I should feel disgraced. Besides"--and she looked very
serious--"there are other reasons why I cannot make any desperate move
for freedom."

Cora thought it wise not to press her further. It was a strange
situation, but surely the woman was honest and kind, and had befriended
Cora in her darkest hour. What more could she ask now?

Helka gave Cora a choice of the dresses, and she took the black
costume. There was scarcely any perceptible difference in their sizes,
and when gowned Helka declared Cora looked "_chic_." Helka herself
looked quite the society lady, her tight-fitting brown costume suiting
her admirably.

Cora was trembling with anticipation. She wondered if they would be
allowed to roam about at will, or how they would be guarded. Finally
Helka was ready.

"We will have Lena with us--that is, she will be supposed to be with
us. Then--but you must wait and see. It is rather odd, but it is
better than being indoors." Helka rang her bell and Lena appeared.

"We are ready," she said simply, and again the girl was gone.

It seemed ages, but really was but a short time before Lena returned.

"All right," she said, "the door is opened, and the dogs are gone."

It was the first time Cora had been out in the hall, and she looked
around in wonderment. It was dark and dirty, so different from Helka's
apartment. Lena led the way. There were three flights of stairs.

"You girls do not do too much sweeping," complained the queen, as she
lifted her skirts. "I should think you would have had