rds to thank you."

"Well, don't do it, then," said Elsie; "save your breath, and run upstairs
and see your dress, instead. Come, let me show you the finery."

"Where is your mother? I must see her a moment. How does my nose look now,
Elsie?" she added, as they went through the hall.

"It looks as if it ought to be tweaked again, you bad girl! But oh, Dexie!
your dress is lovely."

And so thought Dexie herself as she stood by the bed whereon it lay, and
she bitterly reproached herself for the anxiety her waywardness had caused.

Tears were in her eyes as Mrs. Gurney came quietly into the room.

"Dear Mrs. Gurney--" She could say no more, but the eloquent eyes told the
story quite as well as if it had been spoken by the quivering lips.

"There, my dear! There! never mind. It was only a mistake, and we all make
mistakes sometimes; so don't fret any more. See how nicely we have managed.
Do you like it, my dear?"

"So very much that I feel I shall never be able to repay you for the
trouble"--her eyes still full of tears.

"Oh, yes, you will, I expect payment this very night," and the firm, cool
hand was laid lovingly across Dexie's shoulder. "When I hear that you have
overlooked the cause of the trouble, and have sung and whistled your very
best, and to Lancy's satisfaction--when I have heard this, I will consider
the debt well paid," and she bent over and kissed the wet cheeks. "You had
better try on the gloves, dear; then see if we have forgotten any one
thing."

The face was soon wreathed in smiles. The many things made ready for her
use by her dear friends made her realize how much they cared for her, and
her girlish heart beat fast as she thought of the triumph she was
determined to win, if only to please them.

"We are going to have an early tea, and then we will begin to dress," said
Cora, making her appearance in the room. "You must put yourself into my
hands to-night, Dexie, so be passive and obedient. We have all set our
hearts on your success, Dexie, dear."

"And I will not disappoint you, I promise. I would be a monster of iniquity
if I did not do my best, after making so much extra trouble for everybody
to-day."

"Ask Gussie to come in with you for tea, Dexie," said Mrs. Gurney, "and if
she will bring in her dress, one can help the other get ready."

"Oh, that will be splendid! But I don't want any tea; we had a nice lunch
at the Four-Mile House, and I won't eat anything more till after the
conc