see little girls loaded with finery, and that my clothes shall be of
the best material and nicely made, but neat and simple."

"Oh, yes; I know your dress is not cheap; I didn't mean that at all:
it is quite expensive enough, and some of your white dresses are
beautifully worked; but I would like a little more ornament. You wear
so little jewelry, and your father could afford to cover you with it
if he chose. A pair of gold bracelets, like mine for instance, would
be very pretty, and look charming on your lovely white arms: those
pearl ones you wear sometimes are very handsome--any one could tell
that they are the real thing--but you ought to have gold ones too,
with clasps set with diamonds. Couldn't you persuade your papa to buy
some for you?"

"Indeed, Miss Stevens, I don't want them! I don't want anything but
what papa chooses to buy for me of his own accord. Ah! there is Miss
Rose looking for me, I must go," and the little girl, glad of an
excuse to get away, ran joyfully to her friend who had come to the
veranda, where she and Miss Stevens had been standing, to tell her
that they were going out to walk, and her papa wished to take her
along.

Elsie went in to get her hat, and Miss Stevens came towards Rose,
saying, "I think I heard you say you were going to walk; and I
believe, if you don't forbid me, I shall do myself the pleasure of
accompanying you. I have just been waiting for pleasant company. I
will be ready in one moment." And before Rose could recover from her
astonishment sufficiently to reply she had disappeared through the
hall door.