splendid veil to wear," answered Molly, who was to be the maid of
honor, cuffing the little page, Boo.

"I don't care a bit, but my feather would be fine for the Princess,
and I don't know as Emma would like to have me lend it to any one
else," said Annette, waving a long white plume over her head, with
girlish delight in its grace.

"I should think the white silk dress, the veil, and the feather ought
to go together, with the scarlet crape shawl and these pearls. That
would be sweet, and just what princesses really wear," advised Jill,
who was stringing a quantity of old Roman pearls.

"We all want to wear the nice things, so let us draw lots. Wouldn't
that be the fairest way?" asked Merry, looking like a rosy little
bride, under a great piece of illusion, which had done duty in many
plays.

"The Prince is light, so the Princess must be darkish. We ought to
choose the girl who will look best, as it is a picture. I heard Miss
Delano say so, when the ladies got up the tableaux, last winter, and
every one wanted to be Cleopatra," said Jill decidedly.

"You choose, and then if we can't agree we will draw lots,"
proposed Susy, who, being plain, knew there was little hope of her
getting a chance in any other way.

So all stood in a row, and Jill, from her sofa, surveyed them
critically, feeling that the one Jack would really prefer was not
among the number.