sickly, ill child, she must have been disappointed, for the girl that
came with Mrs. Manily had none of these failings. She was tall and
graceful, very pale, but nicely dressed, thanks to Mrs. Manily's
attention after she reached the city on the morning train. With a
gift from Mrs. Bobbsey, Nellie was "fitted up from head to foot," and
now looked quite as refined a little girl as might be met anywhere.

"You were so kind to invite me!" Nellie said to Dorothy, as she took
her seat in the cart. "This is such a lovely place!" and she nodded
toward the wonderful ocean, without giving a hint that she had never
before seen it.

"Yes, you are sure the air is so strong you must swallow strength all
the time," and Nellie knew from the remark that Dorothy was a jolly
girl, and would not talk sickness, like the people who visit poor
children at hospital tents.

Even Mrs. Manily, who knew Nellie to be a capable girl, was surprised
at the way she "fell in" with Nan and Dorothy, and Mrs. Manily was
quite charmed with her quiet, reserved manner. The fact was that
Nellie had met so many strangers in the big department store, she was
entirely at ease and accustomed to the little polite sayings of people
in the fashionable world.

When Nellie unpacked her bag she brought out something for Freddie.
It was a little milk wagon, with real cans, which Freddie could fill
up with "milk" and deliver to customers.

"That is to make you think of Meadow Brook," said Nellie, when she
gave him the little wagon.