"I didn't know Miss Pryor and you were acquainted."

"It's only been a little while," I told her. "I met her when I
was on some business with the Fairies. They know everything and
they told me her father was busy"--I thought she wouldn't want me
to tell that he was plain CROSS, where every one could hear, so I
said "busy" for politeness--"and her mother not very strong, and
that she was a good girl, and dreadfully lonesome. Can't you do
something, mother?"

"Well, I should think so!" said mother, for her heart was soft as
rose leaves. Maybe you won't believe this, but it's quite true.
My mother took the Princess' arm and led her to Sally and
Shelley, and introduced her to all the girls. By the time the
minister came and mother went back to her seat, she had forgotten
all about the "indisposed" word she disliked, and as you live!
she invited the Princess to go home with us to dinner. She stood
tall and straight, her eyes very bright, and her cheeks a little
redder than usual, as she shook hands and said a few pleasant
words that were like from a book, they fitted and were so right.
When mother asked her to dinner she said: "Thank you kindly. I
should be glad to go, but my people expect me at home and they
would be uneasy. Perhaps you would allow me to ride over some
week day and become acquainted?"

Mother said she would be happy to have her, and Shelley said so
too, but Sally was none too cordial. She had dark curls and pink
cheeks herself, and every one had said she was the prettiest girl
in the county before Shelley began to blossom out and show what