ammered Alanna, eagerly, "that's not a bad thing to
do! Me and Marg'ret were both going to do it, weren't we, Marg'ret? We
didn't think it would be bad to wear our own brothers' surplices, did
we, Marg'ret? I was going to ask my mother if we couldn't. Joe's is too
little for him, and Leo's would be just right for me, and they're white
and pretty--" She hesitated a second, her loyal little hand clasping
Marg'ret's tight, her eyes ranging the room bravely. She met her
mother's look, and gained fresh impetus from what she saw there. "And
MOTHER wouldn't have minded, would you, mother?" she finished
triumphantly.

Every one wheeled to face Mrs. Costello, whose look, as she rose, was
all indulgent.

"Well, Sister, I don't see why they shouldn't," began her comfortable
voice. The tension over the room snapped at the sound of it like a cut
string. "After all," she pursued, now joining the heart of the group,
"a surplice is a thing you make in the house like any other dress, and
you know how girls feel about the things their brothers wear,
especially if they love them! Why," said Mrs. Costello, with a
delightful smile that embraced the room, "there never were sisters more
devoted than Marg'ret and my Alanna! However"--and now a business-like
tone crept in--"however, Sister, dear, if you or Mother Superior has
the slightest objection in the world, why, that's enough for us all,
isn't it, girls? We'll leave it to you, Sister. You're the one to
judge." In the look the two women exchanged, they reached a perfect
understanding.

"I think it's very lovely," said Sister Rose, calmly, "to think of a
little girl so devoted to her brother as Margaret is. I could ask
Superior, of course, Mary," she added to Mrs. Costello, "but I know she
would feel that whatever you decide is quite right. So that's settled,
isn't it, girls?"

"Yes, Sister," said a dozen relieved voices, the speakers glad to
chorus assent whether the situation in the least concerned them or not.
Teresa and some of the other girls had gathered about Marg'ret, and a
soothing pur of conversation surrounded them. Mrs. Costello lingered
for a few satisfied moments, and then returned to her chair.

"Come now, girls, hurry!" said Sister Rose. "Take your places, and let
this be a lesson to us not to judge too hastily and uncharitably. Where
were we? Oh, yes, we'll go back to where Grace comes in and says to
Teresa, 'Here, even in the Emperor's very palace, dost dare....' Com