nd, and Miss Eliza had been most unfair in her viewpoint
on that occasion. There still rankled, with both aunt and niece, a
little of the bitterness then aroused.

"You are getting," remarked Miss Eliza grimly, "absolutely
incomprehensible to me. Ever since that letter came from your father,
you have been utterly demoralised. I've half a mind to...."

Miss Letitia hastily held up the dress to be slipped on. She felt it
was undoubtedly the moment, the moment sometimes called psychological,
at which to introduce a counter-irritant.

It was the dark blue silk dress that Arethusa had been sure she would
have. It was as beautifully made as all Miss Letitia's garments were,
but very plain; only lightened at throat and wrists with the simplest
white collar and cuffs. Arethusa was very grateful to Miss Letitia for
having made it. She expressed her gratitude by an all-enveloping hug
which ruffled the small portion of Miss Letitia's hair remaining
comparatively smooth until this moment. But she did wish, most
decidedly, that it was not quite so plain.

Miss Letitia smoothed the folds in the skirt and put a pin in one place
in the hem where she believed it hung a little bit long.

"Do you think," she enquired anxiously of Miss Eliza, "that it hangs
all right in other places, Sister?"

"If Arethusa would stop spinning around like a top long enough for me
to get a good look at it, I might be able to tell you something about
it," replied Miss Eliza, severely.

Arethusa straightened up like a drum major and began turning very
slowly, as slowly as it was possible and keep her balance at the same
time, and Miss Eliza viewed the lower edge of the garment critically
from all sides.

"Yes," was her crisp verdict, "I may say I think it hangs even
everywhere.... But just that one place."

Miss Letitia breathed a deep sigh of relief. Arethusa echoed the sigh.
They dreaded equally the task of hanging a skirt (when it had not hung
right at first) with Miss Eliza's accurate eyes fixed upon the
operation.

"That is a very pretty dress. Sister 'Titia," remarked Miss Asenath.
She had quite a point of vantage on her couch; all fitting processes
were visible in an entirety. "Don't you think so, Arethusa?"

Arethusa agreed with fervency.

"You'd better thank your Aunt 'Titia then," from Miss Eliza.

"She did, Sister," interposed Miss Letitia hastily. "She already did!"

"I didn't hear her."

"Well, she gave me a lovely hug, and we b