nging you up like young ladies; but as to Miss
Pen, she's just past bearing. New ways don't suit her--no, that they
don't. She ain't come in yet--not a bit of her. Oh! there she is,
marching down the corridor as if all the world belonged to her. What have
you done to yourself, Miss Pen? A nice mess you are in!"

"I thought I'd collect some fresh eggs for your tea, nursey," said the
incorrigible child; "and I had three or four in my pinafore when I
dropped them. I am a bit messy, I know; but you don't mind, do you,
nursey?"

"Indeed, then, I do. Just go straight to the nursery and get washed."

Penelope glanced at Briar with a wry face, and ran away singing out in a
shrill voice:

"Cross patch, draw the latch,
Sit by the fire and spin."

She disappeared like a flash, and nurse followed her, murmuring angrily.

Briar ran into her bedroom. This room she shared with Patty and Adelaide.
They also were wildly delighted with their beautiful blouses, and had not
begun to dress when Briar appeared.

"I say, isn't it all jolly?" said Briar. "Oh, Patty, what a duck yours
is!--white. And Adelaide's is white, too. But don't you love mine? I must
be a very pretty girl to cause Aunt Sophia to choose such a lovely shade
of rose. I wonder if I am really a pretty girl. Do stand out of the way;
I want to stare at myself in the glass."

Briar ran to the dressing-table. There she pushed the glass into such an
angle that she could gaze contentedly at her features. She saw a small,
rather round face, cheeks a little flushed, eyes very dark and bright,
quantities of bright brown curling hair, dark pencilled eyebrows, a
little nose, and a small pink mouth.

"You are a charming girl, Briar Dale," she said, "worthy of a rose-pink
blouse. Patty, don't you just love yourself awfully?"

"I don't know," said Patty. "I suppose every one does."

"The Bible says it is very wrong to love yourself," said Adelaide. "You
ought to love other people and hate yourself."

"Well, I am made the contrary," said Briar. "I hate other people and love
myself. Who wouldn't love a darling little face like mine? Oh, I am just
a duck! Help me into my new blouse, Patty."

The three girls, each with the help of the other, managed to array
themselves even to Briar's satisfaction. She was the neatest and also the
vainest of the Dales. When she reached the outside corridor she met
Verena, looking sweet, gentle, and charm