gain. "If you'll let Miss
Claxon come to a little party I'm giving she may do her dance at my
house; but she sha'n't be obliged to do it, or anything she doesn't
like. Don't say she hasn't a gown ready, or something of that kind! You
don't know the resources of Florence, and how the dress makers here doat
upon doing impossible things in no time at all, and being ready before
they promise. If you'll put Miss Claxon in my hands, I'll see that she's
dressed for my dance. I live out on one of the hills over there, that
you see from your windows"--she nodded toward them--"in a beautiful
villa, too cold for winter, and too hot for summer, but I think Miss
Claxon can endure its discomfort for a day, if you can spare her, and
she will consent to leave you to the tender mercies of your maid, and--"
Miss Milray paused at the kind of unresponsive blank to which she found
herself talking, and put up her lorgnette, to glance from Mrs. Lander to
Clementina. The girl said, with embarrassment, "I don't think I ought to
leave Mrs. Landa, just now. She isn't very well, and I shouldn't like to
leave her alone."

"But we're just as much obliged to you as if she could come," Mrs.
Lander interrupted; "and later on, maybe she can. You see, we han't got
any maid, yit. Well, we did have one at Woodlake, but she made us do so
many things for her, that we thought we should like to do a few things
for ouaselves, awhile."

If Miss Milray perhaps did not conceive the situation, exactly, she
said, Oh, they were quite right in that; but she might count upon Miss
Claxon for her dance, might not she; and might not she do anything in
her power for them? She rose to go, but Mrs. Lander took her at her
word, so far as to say, Why, yes, if she could tell Clementina the best
place to get a dress she guessed the child would be glad enough to come
to the dance.

"Tell her!" Miss Milray cried. "I'll take her! Put on your hat, my
dear," she said to Clementina, "and come with me now. My carriage is at
your door."

Clementina looked at Mrs. Lander, who said, "Go, of cou'se, child. I
wish I could go, too."

"Do come, too," Miss Milray entreated.

"No, no," said Mrs. Lander, flattered. "I a'n't feeling very well,
to-day. I guess I'm better off at home. But don't you hurry back on
my account, Clementina." While the girl was gone to put on her hat she
talked on about her. "She's the best gul in the wo'ld, and she won't be
one of the poorest; and I shall feel t