about mending one's clothes."

"There ought to be another degree of comparison," said Paula,--
"Botheratissima!"

"For, only think!" said Vera. "She won't let us have new hats, but
only did up the old ones, and not with feathers, though there is such
a love at Tebbitts's at Rockstone."

"She says it is cruel," said Paula.

"Cruel to me, I am sure; and what difference does it make when the
birds are once killed?"

"Well, she did give us those lovely wreaths of lilies," said Paula.

"Of course, but nothing to make them stylish! What's the good of
being out if one is to have nothing chic? And she won't let me have
a hockey outfit. She says she must see more of it to be able to
judge whether to let us play!"

"That just means seeing whether her dear Merrifields do," said Paula.

"Gillian did at St. Catherine's. But you will know soon. Did I not
hear something about a garden party?"

"Oh, yes; she is talking of one, but it will be all swells and
croquet, and deadly dull."

"I thought you seemed to be getting on well with the swells, if you