ll
dressed in black, was her aunt, and greeted her so, but Gladys's brown eyes
widened.

"My mother couldn't come, for father needed her," she explained. "This is
my maid, Ellen."

"Oh," said Faith, much impressed by such elegance. "We thought aunt Helen
was coming. Ernest is holding the horse over here," and she led the way to
a two-seated wagon where a twelve-year-old boy in striped shirt and old
felt hat was waiting.

Faith made the introductions and then helped Gladys and Ellen into the back
seat of the wagon, all unconscious of her cousin's wonder at the absence of
silver mountings and broadcloth cushions. Then Faith climbed over the wheel
into the seat beside her brother, and the horse started. She turned about
so as to talk more easily with her guest.

"What a beautiful doll!" she said admiringly.

"Yes," returned Gladys, "this is my birthday, you know."

"Oh, then, is it new? I thought it was! Hasn't she the prettiest clothes?
Have you named her yet?"

"Her name is Vera. Mother says it means true, or truth, or something like
that."

Ernest turned half around to glance at the object of the girls' admiration;
but he thought Gladys herself a much more attractive creature than the
doll.

"I suppose your cousin Gladys can't ask you to admire her doll much, Master
Ernest," said Ellen. She liked these rosy children at once, and the fresh,
sunlit air that had painted their cheeks.

"Oh, it's pretty enough," returned Ernest, turning back and clucking to the
horse.

Gladys enjoyed Faith's pleasure. She would not try to show off Vera's
supreme accomplishment in this rattlety-banging wagon. How it did jounce
over occasional stones in the country road!

[Illustration: "I HEAR A SHEEP"]

Ellen smiled at her as the child took hold of her arm in fear of losing her
balance. "That was a 'thank-ye-ma'am,'" she said, as the wagon suddenly
bounded over a little hillock. "Didn't you see what a pretty curtsy we all
made?"

But Gladys thought it was rather uncomfortable and that Ernest drove too
fast, considering the state of the toads.

"This wagon has such nice springs," said Faith. She was eager to take Vera
into her own hands, but no wonder Gladys liked to hold her when she had
only had her such a short time.

Aunt Martha was standing on the piazza to welcome the company when they
arrived. She was an elderly woman with spectacles, and it had to be
explained to her, also, that Ellen was not Gladys's mother.