dreadfully bored with Bab and me," Mollie
explained to Ruth and Grace, "but she is devoted to mother, and used to
want her to live with her. But she never could make up her mind to endure
us girls. Tell me some more news, Bab."

"Well," Barbara read on, "mother has had a letter from Mr. Stuart; but
Ruth's letter will give her this news. He writes that his new gold mine
is a perfect wonder. I am so glad for you, Ruth, dear!" Barbara ended.

"Oh!" Ruth exclaimed. "Father is so lucky! But we really don't need any
more money. Just think, father only has Aunt Sallie and poor me to spend
it all on. If he only had a big family it would be worth while to grow
richer and richer. I wish you were really my sisters. Then you would let
me share some of all this money with you, Bab dear," whispered Ruth in
her best friend's ear, as the two girls dropped behind Mollie and Grace.

Barbara shook her head. Yet the tears started to her eyes in spite of the
fact that she was out on the street. "You generous darling!" she replied.
"If you aren't sharing your money with us by giving us all these good
times, what are you doing? But, of course, we couldn't take your money in
any other way. Mollie and I are used to being poor. We don't mind it so
very much. Let's hurry. Aunt Sallie will want us to put on our best
clothes for our call at the Ambassador's. Thank goodness for Cousin
Betty's present to Mollie and me of the silk suits. We have never had
such fine clothes before in our lives."

"Miss Sallie," inquired Barbara, an hour later, "will Mollie and I do for
the call at the Ambassador's? You know this is the great event in our
lives. Who knows but the Ambassador may even shake hands with humble me!
Do Ambassadors shake hands, Aunt Sallie? Why, 'The Automobile Girls' may
meet the President some day, we are getting so high in the world."

"Who knows indeed, Barbara?" responded Miss Stuart complacently. "Far
more unlikely things have often happened. You and Mollie look very well,
dear. Indeed, I never saw you in more becoming frocks. They are very
dainty and stylish."

"Aunt Sallie," confessed Mollie, "I never had a silk dress before in all
my life. Bab had one made over from an old one of mother's, but this is
positively my first appearance 'in silk attire.'"

Bab's costume was of apricot rajah silk, made with a plaited skirt and a
long coat, which fastened across her chest with a single gilt ornament.
With it she wore a delicate lace bl