sh your new dress though, dear," she said,
glancing regretfully at the darn in Betty's skirt. "I tried to do it
last night, but my eyes hurt me, and I was afraid to work any longer."

"I don't mind one bit," declared Betty, remembering to have wakened in
the night just as the clock was striking twelve, and found her mother's
place in bed still empty. "I think this dress is nice enough, and I'm
sure Mrs. Hamilton and Winifred are too kind to care about what people
wear."

"I care though," said Mrs. Randall with a sigh; "I should like to have
people think that my little girl was a lady."

"Well, if I behave nicely and am ladylike, won't they think so any way?"
inquired Betty innocently. At which her mother smiled in spite of
herself, and gave her a kiss.

At three o'clock precisely there was a ring at the door bell, and Mrs.
Hamilton appeared. She was closely followed by Mr. Jones, the
good-natured janitor, who lifted Jack in his strong arms and carried him
downstairs as easily as if he had been a baby. Mrs. Randall accompanied
the party to the sidewalk, and stood by, watching anxiously while the
little cripple was placed carefully and tenderly on the seat of the
comfortable carriage Mrs. Hamilton had procured. She looked so sad and
wistful that kind Mrs. Hamilton longed to ask her to take her place in
the carriage, but dared not, lest in doing so she might arouse her
neighbor's sensitive pride.

At last all was ready, Mrs. Hamilton and the two little girls were in
their places, and the carriage moved slowly away from the door.

"Good-bye, mother, dear," cried Jack, waving his thin little hand as he
leaned comfortably back among his pillows; "I'm having such a lovely,
lovely time."

There were tears in Mrs. Randall's dark eyes as she turned away, and
when she had gone back to her own rooms, instead of at once settling
down to her afternoon's sewing, she threw herself wearily upon Jack's
sofa and buried her face in the pillows with a sob.

What a drive that was! I don't think any one of those four people will
ever forget it.

"It was one of the loveliest experiences I ever had in my life, Phil,"
Mrs. Hamilton told her husband that evening with tears in her eyes. "To
see that dear little fellow's wonder and delight over the very simplest
things was enough to make one ashamed of ever having been dissatisfied
with one's lot or discontented about anything. I never before in my life
saw any one so perfectly happy."