ttery,
all unique in their way. Besides the other things, Norah had done a
motto in black and red letters, "A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine," and hung it in the midst.

The popularity of the place increased. Susanna was often called in to
help, and one day a society reporter, out for news, and directed there
by Madelaine Russell, dropped in and interviewed them.

An elaborate description, with mention of the charming and intelligent
young women who had it in charge, appeared next day in one of the
papers. Miss Sarah immediately sent a marked copy to Mrs. Millard.

"We are becoming famous," laughed Norah, as she read it to Marion.

"I wish it did not have to be," said Marion, discontentedly.

"Ungrateful person that you are!" cried Norah.

The newspaper article brought Mrs. Leigh to the shop. Heretofore her
opposition had been consistently maintained; but now, early one
morning, she walked in, a picture of an old lady, with a close-fitting
bonnet over her silvery puffs, a black silk circular lined with gray
squirrel, and an old-fashioned reticule on her arm.

"I have just come to look around," she told Norah. "I have heard so
much of this shop, and it is not in the least like anything I ever saw
before,--and neither are you, for that matter."

Then, as Norah laughed, she added, "I mean you are entirely too pretty
for a shopkeeper. I'd like to know what you are doing it for, but of
course you won't tell me."

"Oh, yes, I will. I am doing it for a living."

"Well, in my day a pretty girl like you wouldn't have had a chance to
make her own living for long, but it is different now. I don't know
whose fault it is."

All the while she was walking about, seeing everything, admiring or
finding fault with equal frankness. Norah, who was delighted with her
visitor, urged her to sit down and rest a few moments.

"Thank you, I believe I will. I am on my way out to my niece's to show
her how to make a plum-pudding." She laughed a little, reminiscently,
and Norah looked interested.

"It makes me think of the time my husband was invited to dine at Dr.
Gray's to meet a distinguished clergyman who had arrived
unexpectedly. It was on Saturday, and when Mr. Leigh came home that
evening he couldn't say enough about Mrs. Gray's plum-pudding. It was
the best he ever ate, and I must get the receipt. I didn't say
anything until next day. Mr. Leigh was mighty fond of dessert; and
when he found there wasn't any for Sunday