nt infallibly into place and never out of
place; and Madame measured and fitted and talked all at once, with the
smooth rapid working of a first-rate steam engine. New York
mantua-making was very different from the same thing at Shadywalk! And
here Matilda saw the wealth of her new wardrobe unrolled. There was a
blue merino and a red cashmere and a brown rep, for daily wear; and
there was a most beautiful crimson silk and a dark green one for other
occasions. There was a blue crape also, with which Miss Judy evidently
fell in love.

"It would not become you, Judy, with your black eyes," her aunt said.
"Now Matilda is fair; it will suit her."

"Charmingly!" Mme. Fournissons had added. "Just the thing. There is a
delicacy of skin which will set off the blue, and which the blue will
set off. Miss Bartholomew should wear the colours of the dahlia--as her
mother knows."

"Clear straw colour, for instance, and purple!" said Judith scornfully.

"Mrs. Bartholomew has not such bad taste," said Mme. Fournissons. "This
is?--this young lady?"--

"My adopted daughter, madame," said Mrs. Laval.

"She will not dishonour your style, madam," rejoined the mantua-maker
approvingly.

Judith pouted. She could do that well. But Matilda went down the stairs
happy. Now she was sure her dress would be quite as handsome and quite
as fashionable as Judy's; there would be no room for glances of
depreciation, or such shrugs of disdain as had been visited upon the
country people coming to Stewart's. All would be strictly correct in
her attire, and according to the latest and best mode. The wind blew as
hard as ever, and the dust swept in furious charges against everybody
in the street by turns; but there were folds of silk and velvet, as
well as sheets of plate glass now, between Matilda and it. When they
reached home, Mrs. Laval called Matilda into her room.

"Here are your five dollars for December, my darling," she said. "Have
you any boots beside those?"

"No, ma'am."

"You want another pair of boots; and then you will do very well until
next month. Norton can take you to the shoemaker's to-morrow,--he likes
to take you everywhere; tell him it must be Laddler's. And you will
want to go and see your sisters, will you not?"

"O yes, ma'am."

"Where is it?"

Matilda named the place.

"316 Bolivar St.," repeated Mrs. Laval. "Bolivar St. Where is that?
Bolivar Street is away over on the other side of the city, I think,
towards wha