d the rest just as much,
if not a little more than Ernestine, and perhaps Mrs. Dering detected
the look in their faces, for she sighed, and Bea discovered that the
same sad look, only deepened and more anxious, lingered in her eyes; and
to show her repentance for a moment's complaining thought, she entered
heartily into Ernestine's selfish joy.

"Just think how I will ride horseback," cried Ernestine, gayly. "I must
fix out a habit some way, mama, and girls, you must let me have all your
pretty things, because Mrs. Raymond's girls dress beautifully, and
entertain a great deal."

"But my dear," spoke her mother, "I am sending you out there to rest, to
enjoy their lovely home, and to grow stronger on country air, not to
frolic and waste all your strength."

"Oh, mama, what an idea!" laughed Ernestine. "Why, I'm not sick, I don't
need rest, all I want is a little fun and something gay. Look at Bea;
she's as pale as a little ghost; you might talk about sending her out to
the country to be quiet, and drink milk, but not me. I don't need it."
And Ernestine nodded gayly to her own radiant reflection in the glass
opposite; then without waiting for any answer, jumped up and waltzed
around the room.

"What a blessing it is that Uncle Ridley gave us the dresses. My purple
is just as stylish as can be, only I do wish, mama, you'd have let me
had a train to it; I'm so tall, and plenty old enough. Bea, will you let
me have that pretty gilt butterfly that you fixed for your hair, and
your gold cuff pins? I've lost one of mine, and they are always such an
addition to one's dress. Olive, you never wore your new black kids much;
let me take them, will you? mine look worn, and I do love nice gloves;
they always mark a lady. And your new dress. I do need a black one
dreadfully, and you say you never will wear yours, so you might just as
well give it to me,--loan it, anyhow."

"You may have it, for all I care," answered Olive. "But my gloves are
one of the things that I cannot loan."

"Nor the dress," said Mrs. Dering, quickly. "You have quite enough
dresses, Ernestine, and besides, Olive's is from her Uncle Ridley, and
she cannot give it away."

Ernestine couldn't see any sense of having it lay upstairs in the
drawer, though she did not say so; and privately thought that perhaps
she could coax her mother around, since Olive was so willing. It proved
quite a vain idea, however, though she made it her last request in the
morning, be