nstigation Mrs. Perkins had made full curtains and
lambrequins of unbleached muslin, which she had trimmed and looped back
with bands of Turkey red cotton. There were two table covers to match,
and each of the girls had her study corner. Rebecca, after much
coaxing, had been allowed to bring over her precious lamp, which would
have given a luxurious air to any apartment, and when Mr. Aladdin's
last Christmas presents were added,--the Japanese screen for Emma Jane
and the little shelf of English Poets for Rebecca,--they declared that
it was all quite as much fun as being married and going to housekeeping.

The day of Huldah's call was Friday, and on Fridays from three to half
past four Rebecca was free to take a pleasure to which she looked
forward the entire week. She always ran down the snowy path through the
pine woods at the back of the seminary, and coming out on a quiet
village street, went directly to the large white house where Miss
Maxwell lived. The maid-of-all-work answered her knock; she took off
her hat and cape and hung them in the hall, put her rubber shoes and
umbrella carefully in the corner, and then opened the door of paradise.
Miss Maxwell's sitting-room was lined on two sides with bookshelves,
and Rebecca was allowed to sit before the fire and browse among the
books to her heart's delight for an hour or more. Then Miss Maxwell
would come back from her class, and there would be a precious half hour
of chat before Rebecca had to meet Emma Jane at the station and take
the train for Riverboro, where her Saturdays and Sundays were spent,
and where she was washed, ironed, mended, and examined, approved and
reproved, warned and advised in quite sufficient quantity to last her
the succeeding week.

On this Friday she buried her face in the blooming geraniums on Miss
Maxwell's plant-stand, selected Romola from one of the bookcases, and
sank into a seat by the window with a sigh of infinite content, She
glanced at the clock now and then, remembering the day on which she had
been so immersed in David Copperfield that the Riverboro train had no
place in her mind. The distracted Emma Jane had refused to leave
without her, and had run from the station to look for her at Miss
Maxwell's. There was but one later train, and that went only to a place
three miles the other side of Riverboro, so that the two girls appeared
at their respective homes long after dark, having had a weary walk in
the snow.

When she had re