her and wondered what
was the matter. When breakfast was over Kitty went up to Florence,
slipped her hand through her arm, and pulled her out into the sunshine.

"Is anything wrong, Florry?" she said.

"Oh, it's only that beastly mean Aunt Susan," retorted Florence,
shrugging her shoulders.

"Your Aunt Susan?"

"Yes, of course; you have heard me talk of her. I am dependent on her,
you know; oh, it's the most hateful position for any girl!"

"I am very sorry, and I quite understand," said Kitty.

"I don't believe you do; you have never been put in such an odious
plight. For instance, you have cherry-colored ribbons to wear
to-night, have you not?"

"Such beauties," replied Kitty; "father sent them to me a week ago. A
yard and a half to make the bunch for the front of my dress, and a yard
and a half to tie up my hair--three yards; and such a lovely, lovely
color, and such soft ribbon, corded silk on one side, and satin at the
other. Oh, it is beautiful."

"Yes, of course, it is beautiful," said Florence; "you have told us
about those ribbons a great many times." Florence could not help her
voice being tart, and Kitty looked at her in some astonishment.

"But all the same," she said, "you're glad I have got cherry-colored
ribbons, are you not?"

"I don't know," replied Florence, flushing; "I believe I hate you for
having them. There, I'm nothing if I'm not frank."

"You hate me for having them? Oh, Florry, but you cannot be so mean."

"I wrote to Aunt Susan myself--there was no time to tackle her in a
roundabout way through mother. I wrote to her and got her reply this
morning. She sent me--what do you think? Instead of the beautiful
ribbons which I asked for, three yards of which are absolutely
necessary to make even a show of a decent appearance, six stamps! Six
stamps, I assure you, to buy what I could for myself! Did you ever
hear of anything so miserably mean? Oh, I hate her, I do hate her!"

"Poor Florence!" said Kitty; "but you must have the ribbons somehow,
must you not?"

"I must; I dare not appear without. Mademoiselle Le Brun is going into
Hilchester immediately after breakfast, and I am going to ask her to
get me the best she can, but, of course, she will get nothing worth
having for sixpence--a yard and a half at the most of some horrid
cottony stuff which will look perfectly dreadful. It is mean of Aunt
Susan, and you know, Kitty," continued Florence, her tone softening at
th