"We didn't mean to tell you," said Guss; "but I and Sophy are going to
work two sofas for the drawing-room--in Berlin wool, you know: they'll
be very handsome--everybody has them now, you know; they have a
splendid pair at Ballyhaunis which Nora and her cousin worked."

"But we want to know what pattern would suit Fanny's taste," said
Sophy.

"Well; you can't know that," said Frank rather pettishly, "so you'd
better please yourselves."

"Oh, but you must know what she likes," continued Guss; "I'm for this,"
and she, displayed a pattern showing forth two gorgeous macaws--each
with plumage of the brightest colours. "The colours are so bright, and
the feathers will work in so well."

"I don't like anything in worsted-work but flowers," said Sophy; "Nora
Dillon says she saw two most beautiful wreaths at that shop in Grafton
Street, both hanging from bars, you know; and that would be so much
prettier. I'm sure Fanny would like flowers best; wouldn't she now,
Frank?--Mamma thinks the common cross-bar patterns are nicer for
furniture."

"Indeed I do, my dear," said Mrs O'Kelly; "and you see them much more
common now in well-furnished drawing-rooms. But still I'd much sooner
have them just what Fanny would like best. Surely, Frank, you must have
heard her speak about worsted-work?"

All this completely disconcerted Frank, and made him very much out of
love with his own plan of consulting his mother. He gave the trio some