like to tell the story of her guinea-hen, of the gown,
and of her poor lamb. Part of this would seem as if she were speaking
of her own good deeds, and part of it she did not like to remember.
But her mother begged to know the whole, and she told it as simply as
she could. When she came to the story of her lamb, her voice faltered,
and everybody present was touched. The old harper sighed once, and
cleared his throat several times. He then asked for his harp, and
after tuning it for long, he played the air he had promised to the
boys.

VIII

BARBARA VISITS THE ABBEY

The old blind man had come from the mountains of Wales to try to gain
a prize of ten guineas. This prize was to be awarded to the harper who
should play the best at a large town about five miles from the village
where Susan lived. In the evening, after the prize-giving was over,
there was to be a ball in the town, so the events of the day were
looked forward to by many around. Barbara was one of those who grew
more and more excited as the time for the prize-giving and ball drew
near. She longed to be asked to go there by some of the rich neighbors
who could drive her in their carriage. So how pleased she was when,
on the evening that her father and the butcher were talking about
Susan's lamb, a servant in livery from the Abbey left a note for Mr.
and Miss Barbara Case! It was to invite them to dinner and tea at the
Abbey next day.

"Now they will find out," cried Bab, "that I am indeed a genteel
person, and they will wish to take me to the ball. At any rate, I
shall do my best to be asked."

"To be sure," said Betty, "a lady who would visit Susan Price might
well be glad to take you in her carriage."

"Then pray, Betty, do not forget to send to town first thing to-morrow
for my new bonnet. Without that the ladies of the Abbey will think
nothing of me. And I must coax Papa to buy me a new gown for the ball.
I shall look well at all the ladies' dresses at the Abbey to-morrow
and find out the fashion. And Betty, I have thought of a charming
present to take Miss Somers. I shall give her Susan's guinea-hen. It's
of no use to me, so carry it up early in the morning to the Abbey,
with my compliments."

Feeling quite sure that her bonnet and the guinea-fowl would make Miss
Somers think well of her, Barbara paid her first visit to the Abbey.
She expected to see wonders, but when she was shown into the room
where Miss Somers and other ladies were si