china, which seemed made partly of egg shells, so fine it was and
pretty.

Miss Pompret's dining room was one in which it seemed every one had to
sit up straight, and in which every chair had to be in just the right
place, where the table legs must keep very straight, too, and where not
even a corner of a rug dared to be turned up. In fact it was a very
straight, old-fashioned but very beautiful dining room, and Miss Pompret
herself was an old-fashioned but beautiful lady.

"Now if you will sit very still, and not move, I'll bring out some
pieces of my china set and show them to you," said Miss Pompret. "You
were so kind as to take the letter to the post-office for me when I
could not go myself, that I feel I ought to reward you to some way."

"The chocolate cake was enough," said Nan.

"Yes, it was awful good!" sighed Bert.

"Mother told you not to say 'awful,'" interposed Ben's sister.

"Oh, well, I mean it was terribly nice!" exclaimed the boy.

"I'm glad you liked it," went on Miss Pompret with a smile. "But I must
not keep you too long, or your mother will be wondering what has become
of you. But I thought you, Nan, would be interested in seeing beautiful
china. You'll have a home of your own, some day, and nothing is nicer in
a nice home than beautiful dishes."

"I know that!" cried Nan. "My mamma has some very beautiful dishes, and