ore
interesting than many of the people who belonged to her own sphere,
and whom she was accustomed to call friends. The end of it was, she
asked them to tea with Alex and the shopkeepers,--a tremendous
departure, a step taken with fear and trembling. But when it was over,
she found herself looking back on it as one of the happiest occasions
of her life.

And now the Friday evenings at the shop began to be enlarged in their
scope. It came about quite naturally. Norah, the sunny-hearted, could
not breathe without attracting friends; and while the basket making
still went on, and Miss Sarah and Miss Virginia brought their
embroidery, others dropped in for the pleasant talk.

Alex induced her grandfather to go with her on one occasion, and the
judge was clearly both bewildered and charmed. He renewed his
acquaintance with Norah, of whom he had not ceased to speak in
admiration, and was greatly impressed by Marion's graceful bearing.

Madelaine, who enjoyed doing unexpected things, appeared upon the
scene this same night with Winston Graham in tow. This gentleman's
astonishment was only exceeded by his willingness to follow Madelaine
anywhere. He professed some interest in baskets, whereupon Marion gave
him a seat beside Miss Martin.

"'The rich and the poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them
all,'" Miss Sarah quoted to Miss Virginia.

"What do you call this place, Miss Pennington? It isn't really a
shop--you don't sell things?" asked Mr. Graham, when, a little later,
Norah came to the rescue.

"Why, of course we do. How else could we make a living? And it has
several names," she replied. "Has Alex told you the latest," turning
to Judge Russell. "She saw Mammy Belle on the corner one morning,
gazing over here with all her eyes. 'It shorely do look like a
_Norah's Ark_, Miss Alex,' she said. And really there is no doubt
about its resembling an ark although we had none of us thought of it;
and while I can't claim exclusive proprietorship, I accept the honor
of having it named for me. What do you think of it?"

The old gentleman glanced about him. "It is not nearly poetic enough,
my dear," he said.

Norah laughed at this gallant speech. "You see," she went on, "we are
simply reviving a cosey old custom of living over the shop, which
should interest you as a lover of old things."

"And also of young things--if you will pardon the expression," said
the judge, smiling.

"Why, grandfather," cried Alex, "I s