isn't very inconvenient I'd be very much obliged if she could come to
see me to-day. You'll remember, won't you?"

"Yes, ma'am, I'll tell her you'm bad in bed."

"I wish," began Mrs. Perry, then hesitated, her eyes glancing over
the shabby little maiden standing by her bedside. "I wish you
weren't quite so--I wish you were a little tidier."

Huldah flushed under her glance. "My face and hands is clean," she
said, shyly, "and I'll put the sweeping-brush over my hair--"

Mrs. Perry smiled, in spite of herself. "No, don't do that, child;
take and use that one over there by the looking-glass; but 'twas your
frock I was thinking about, and your apron is too ragged and dirty to
see a lady in. I don't suppose you could wear one of mine--it'd be
too long, wouldn't it?"

"I'm 'fraid it would, ma'am, but I'll try, if you like."

"There's one there on the chair by the door; hold it up against you,
and let me see how it looks."

Huldah took the apron shyly, and held it round her waist. It hung
far below her frock, and reached the top of her foot, but it hid her
shabby old frock, and certainly gave her a cleaner look.

"P'raps if I tied it round under my arms it would look better," she
suggested. She was very anxious to be a credit to her new friend,
and she was even more anxious not to shock Miss Rose, at first sight,