of a bright face, surrounded by heavy chestnut curls, and lighted
with clear hazel eyes, and flashing teeth, a head of queenly shape
and poise, and a firm, graceful figure, well set off by its white
dress, black bodice, and scarlet ribbons,--a charming picture, with
the quaintly decorated chamber for background, and the heavy black
frame of the old mirror for setting: and a brighter color washed
into the young girl's cheek as she recognized the fact; but she only
said,--

"Why do you call her Molly, Kitty?"

"Oh! just a fancy name. We must call her something, and can't find
out her right name."

"She called it Sunshine," said Dora, bending to kiss the pale little
face upon the pillow as she passed.

"Moonshine, more like," replied Kitty. "She didn't mean it for a
name, of course. You didn't understand. But come: your beau is
waiting."

"Don't, Kitty, please!"

"I might as well begin. Every man is a beau that comes near you. I
never saw such luck!"

Dora opened her lips, closed them tightly, and left the room. The
next moment she stood in the low doorway of the parlor, bowing
gravely, but not shyly, to the stately gentleman, whose head grazed
the great white beam in the ceiling as he came forward to meet her.