"I have been at my post, sir, since Elizabeth was three years
old," Miss White said with spirit, "and I have frequently told
you that she was not vain. I'll go and tell her what you say,
immejetly!"

But when Cherry-pie went to carry the great news she found
Elizabeth's door locked.

"What? Uncle is going to give me a locket?" Elizabeth called out
in answer to her knock. "Oh, joy! Splendid!"

"Let me in, and I'll tell you what he said," Miss White called
back.

"No! I can't!" cried the joyous young voice. "I'm busy!"

She was busy; she was holding a lamp above her head, and looking
at herself in the mirror over the mantelpiece. Her hair was down,
tumbling in a shining mass over her shoulders, her eyes were like
stars, her cheeks rose-red. She was turning her white neck from
side to side, throwing her head backward, looking at herself
through half-shut eyes; her mouth was scarlet. "Blair is in love
with me!" she said to herself. She felt his last kiss still on
her mouth; she felt it until it seemed as if her lip bled.

"David Richie needn't talk about 'little girls' any more. _I'm
engaged!_" She put the lamp down on the mantelpiece, shook her
mane of hair back over her bare shoulders, and then, her hands on
her hips, her short petticoat ruffling about her knees, she began