nd drove her in to Belmouth to hunt
through the shops in search of a coat or a cloak which would not cost
more than nine shillings, and at the same time be neat and warm,
and--at least, so Huldah hoped,--pretty.

Such a day as that was to Huldah! Such a day as had never come into
her life before. First of all there was the drive, four whole miles
with Miss Rose in her dear little pony-carriage, and actually wearing
one of Miss Rose's old golf cloaks wrapped snugly round her. The sun
shone and the birds sang, and the air was exhilarating with the first
touch of frost; the trees glowed warmly in their autumn dress, and
the hedges too.

Huldah was speechless with excitement, when, after leaving Rob, the
pony, at a livery-stable, she followed Miss Carew into the big
draper's shop where the purchase was to be made. She was half
frightened too, the place was so large, and there were so many people
there, who seemed to have nothing to do but stare about them.
It was quite an ordeal to walk behind the shop-walker between the
long lines of counters with so many people looking over them at her.
She kept very close indeed to Miss Rose, and tried to believe that it
was at Miss Rose they were staring, and not at herself.

Then at last they came to the jacket department, and before she knew
what she was doing a very tall young woman was standing beside her
with a bright scarlet coat in her hands, and actually holding it out
for Huldah to try on.

"Oh, that will not do," interposed Miss Rose, sharply. She was sorry
that Huldah should have seen it, it was so attractive, though
unsuitable, and would probably make all the others seem dull and
ugly. But Huldah knew too that it was quite unsuitable for her
purpose. What she wanted was a serviceable garment for Sundays and
week-days, wet weather and fine; she would have loved though to have
it, and for years after, one of her ambitions was to have a bright
red coat in the winter.

Miss Rose strolled away with the girl, after that, to say a word to
her in private, and to try to help her pick out something suitable;
and very soon they came back again with black coats, blue coats,
dark green and grey coats, and one after the other Huldah tried them
on, and one after the other they were thrown aside as useless.
The shoulders came to her elbows nearly, and the cuffs beyond her
finger-tips, while the collars refused to come anywhere near her
neck! It was most disappointing.

"She