so _awfully_ splendid as it was at first.

I forgot to tell you that my new bonnet flares a great deal,
and that I have white lace quilling round the face with little
black dotty things in it on stems. They don't wear those close
cottage bonnets now. And aunt has had my dresses made longer
and my pantalettes shorter, so that they hardly show at all.
She says I shall soon wear long dresses, I am getting so tall.
Alice wears them now, and her feet look so pretty, and she has
such pretty slippers: little French purple ones, and sometimes
dark green, and sometimes beautiful light gray, to go with
different dresses. I don't care for anything but the slippers,
but I _should_ like such ones as hers. Aunt says I can't, of
course, as long as I wear black, but I can have purple ones
next summer to wear with my white dresses. That will be when I
come to see you.

I am afraid you will think this is a very _wearing_ kind of a
letter, there are so many 'wears' in it. I have been reading it
over so far, but I can't put in any other word.

Your affectionate sister,
LAURA SHIERE.

P.S. Aunt Oferr says Laura Shiere is such a good sounding name.
It doesn't seem at all common. I am glad of it. I should hate
to be common.

I do not think I shall give you any more of it just here than these
two letters tell. We are not going through all Frank and Laura's