"Oh, Elsie, did you have a pleasant ride?
Is Sally Gibson coming soon ?" "I don't know; mamma said I need not wait for an answer." There was time for no more, and Vi must put a restraint upon herself, repressing excitement and curiosity for the present, as mamma expected her children to be very quiet and unobtrusive at table when away from home.
Vi was delighted when just as they were leaving the table, a servant announced that a young person who called herself Miss Gibson, was asking for Miss Travilla; for Vi never liked waiting, and was always eager to carry out immediately any plan that had been set on foot.
Mrs.Gibson was not troubled with any delicacy of feeling about asking for what she wanted, and had made out a list of things to be provided for herself and Sally, which the girl was ashamed to show; so extravagant seemed its demands.
When urged by her benefactress, she mentioned a few of the most necessary articles, modestly adding that the generous gift Mrs.Travilla had already bestowed, ought to be sufficient to supply all else that might be required.
Elsie, seating herself at her writing desk and taking out pen, ink and paper, looked smilingly into the eager faces of her two little girls.
"What do you think about it, dears ?" "Oh, they must have more things; a good many more, and we want to help pay for them with our money." "You see, Miss Sally, they will be sadly disappointed if you refuse to accept their gifts," Elsie said.

"Now I'm going to make out a list and you must all help me, lest something should be forgotten.

Mrs.Ross has kindly offered us the use of her carriage, and we will drive to the nearest town and see what we can find there, the rest we will order from New York." The list was made out amid much innocent jesting and merry laughter of both mother and children,--Sally a deeply interested and delighted spectator of their pleasing intercourse--the mother so sweet, gentle and affectionate, the children so respectful and loving to her, so kind and considerate to each other.
In fact, the girl was so occupied in watching them, that she was not aware till Mrs.Travilla read it over aloud, that this new list was longer and more extravagant than the one she had suppressed.
"Oh, it is too much, Mrs.Travilla!" she cried, the tears starting to her eyes.
"My dear child," returned Elsie, playfully, "I'm a wilful woman and will have my own way.

Come, the carriage is in waiting and we must go." The shopping expedition was quite a frolic for the children, and a great treat to poor, overworked Sally.

"She looks so shabby; I'd be ashamed to go with her to the stores or anywhere, or to have her ride in the carriage with me," Gertrude had said to Vi as the little girls were having their hats put on; but Vi answered indignantly, "She's clean and tidy, and she isn't vulgar or rude, and I do believe she's good; and mamma says dress and riches don't make the person." And that seemed to be the feeling of all; Elsie, too, had purposely dressed herself and her children as plainly as possible; so that Sally, though at first painfully conscious of the deficiencies in her attire, soon forgot all about them, and gave herself up to the thorough enjoyment of the pleasures provided for her.
She felt that it would be very ungrateful did she not share the hearty rejoicing of the children over "her pretty things" as they eagerly selected and paid for them with their own pocket money, seeming fully to realize the truth of the Master's declaration, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Vi would have had the making of the new dresses begun at once, wanting Sally to return with them to the Crags, and let Dinah fit her immediately, but was overruled by her mamma.
"No, my dear, Sally must go home to her sick mother now, and Dinah shall go to them after dinner." "But mamma, I want to begin my part.