WORDSWORTH.

"So there you are up for the day--really you look very comfortable,"
said Ethel, coming into the room where Margaret lay on her bed,
half-raised by pillows, supported by a wooden frame.

"Yes, is not it a charming contrivance of Richard's? It quite gives me
the use of my hands," said Margaret.

"I think he is doing something else for you," said Ethel; "I heard him
carpentering at six o'clock this morning, but I suppose it is to be a
secret."

"And don't you admire her night-cap?" said Flora.

"Is it anything different?" said Ethel, peering closer. "Oh, I see--so
she has a fine day night-cap. Is that your taste, Flora?"

"Partly," said Margaret, "and partly my own. I put in all these little
white puffs, and I hope you think they do me credit. Wasn't it grand of
me?"

"She only despises you for them," said Flora.

"I'm very glad you could," said Ethel, gravely; "but do you know? it
is rather like that horrid old lady in some book, who had a paralytic
stroke, and the first thing she did that showed she had come to her
senses was to write, 'Rose-coloured curtains for the doctors.'"

"Well, it was for the doctor," said Margaret, "and it had its effect. He
told me I looked much better when he found me trying it on."

"And did you really have the looking-glass and try it on?" cried Ethel.

"Yes, really," said Flora. "Don't you think one may as well be fit to be
seen if one is ill? It is no use to depress one's friends by being more
forlorn and disconsolate than one can help."

"No--not disconsolate," said Ethel; "but the white puffiness--and the
hemming--and the glass!"

"Poor Ethel can't get over it," said Margaret. "But, Ethel, do you think
there is nothing disconsolate in untidiness?"

"You could be tidy without the little puffs! Your first bit of work too!
Don't think I'm tiresome. If they were an amusement to you, I am sure I
am very glad of them, but I can't see the sense of them."

"Poor little things!" said Margaret laughing. "It is only my foible for
making a thing look nice. And, Ethel," she added, drawing her down close
over her, "I did not think the trouble wasted, if seeing me look fresher
cheered up dear papa a moment."

"I spoke to papa about nurse's proposal," said Margaret presently to
Flora, "and he quite agrees to it. Indeed it is impossible that Anne
should attend properly to all the children while nurse is so much
engaged with me."

"I think so," said Flora;