ions of the idle people of the world? But even
the mother did not object to following them when she found the wide,
useless sleeves, so much sought after by foolish young girls, giving
place to the small coat-sleeves which had been considered the thing in
her own and her mother's youth. They were, as she said, far more
sensible-like, and a saving besides. The additional width which Katie
quietly appropriated to Shenac's skirt would have been declared a piece
of sinful extravagance, if the mother had known of it before Shenac was
turning round, from one to another, to be admired with the new dress on.
She did cry out at the length. Why the stocking could only just be
seen above the shoe tied round the slender ankle! There was surely no
call to waste good cloth by making the skirt so long. "Never mind,"
said Katie: "Flora's should be all the shorter;" and by that means
little Flora was in the fashion too.

I daresay Shenac's pleasure in her new dress might have awakened
amusement, perhaps contempt, among young people to whom new dresses are
not so rare a luxury. But never a young belle of them all could have
the same right to take pleasure and pride in silk or satin as Shenac had
to be proud of her simple shepherd's plaid. She had shorn the wool, and
spun and dyed it with her own hands. She had made it too, with Katie's
help; and never was pleasure more innocent or more unmixed than hers, as
she stood challenging admiration for it from them all.

Indeed, both the dress and the wearer might have successfully challenged
admiration from a larger and less interested circle than that--at least,
so thought the new master, who came in with Hamish while the affair was
in progress. He had seen prettier faces, and nicer dresses too, it is
to be supposed; but he had certainly never seen anything prettier or
nicer than Shenac's innocent pride and delight in her own handiwork.

Shenac Dhu gave the whole a finishing touch as she drew round her
cousin's not very slender waist a black band fastened with a silver
clasp--an heirloom in the family since the time that the Macivors used
to wear the Highland garb among their native hills.

"Now walk away and let us see you," said she, giving her a gentle push.

Shenac minced and swung her skirts as she moved, as little children do
when they are playing "fine ladies." Even her mother could not help
laughing, it was so unlike the busy, anxious Shenac of the last few
months.

"Is