"Won't you let me look at it?
I know that it is more valuable than you think.

It will make me happy for the whole day, if you will let me see these old pieces.

They may not look beautiful to you, you are so accustomed to them; but to me every one must have a history, or a history my imagination will supply." Miss Charity looked gently but perceptibly frightened.

She shook her head, saying in her weak, fond tones: "They are too dusty; we are not such housekeepers as we used to be; I am ashamed--" But Miss Thankful's peremptory tones cut her short.
"Miss Saunders will excuse a little dust.

We are so occupied," she explained, with her eye fixed upon me in almost a challenging way, "that we can afford little time for unnecessary housework.