things of that sort.?
“Could and didn’t! I can’t believe it!” And Annabel sank into a
chair, as if the thought was too much for her.
“I did rather want to at first, just for the fun of the thing. In fact, I
went and looked at some amazing gowns. But they were very
expensive, very much trimmed, and not my style at all, so I gave
them up and kept what I valued more than all the gowns Worth
every made.?
“What in the world was it?” cried Annabel, hoping she would say
diamonds.
“Uncle’s good opinion,” answered Rose, looking thoughtfully into
the depths of a packing case, where lay the lovely picture that
would always remind her of the little triumph over girlish vanity,
which not only kept but increased “Uncle’s good opinion.?
“Oh, indeed!” said Annabel blankly, and fell to examining Aunt
Plenty’s lace while Rose went on with a happy smile in her eyes as
she dived into another trunk.
“Uncle thinks one has no right to waste money on such things, but
he is very generous and loves to give useful, beautiful, or curious
gifts. See, all these pretty ornaments are for presents, and you shall
choose first whatever you like.?
“He’s a perfect dear!” cried Annabel, reveling in the crystal,
filigree, coral, and mosaic trinkets spread before her while Rose
completed her rapture by adding sundry tasteful trifles fresh from
Paris.
“Now tell me, when do you mean to have your coming-out party? I
ask because I’ve nothing ready and want plenty of time, for I
suppose it will be the event of the season,” asked Annabel a few
minutes later as she wavered between a pink coral and a blue lava
set.
“I came out when I went to Europe, but I suppose Aunty Plen will
want to have some sort of merry-making to celebrate our return. I
shall begin as I mean to go on, and have a simple, sociable sort of
party and invite everyone whom I like, no matter in what ‘set’ they
happen to belong. No one shall ever say I am aristocratic and
exclusive so prepare yourself to be shocked, for old friends and
young, rich and poor, will be asked to all my parties.?
“Oh, my heart! You are going to be odd, just as Mama predicted!”
sighed Annabel, clasping her hands in despair and studying the
effect of three bracelets on her chubby arm in the midst of her
woe.
“In my own house I’m going to do as I think best, and if people call
me odd, I can’t help it. I shall endeavor not to do anything very
dreadful, but I seem to inherit Uncle’s love for experiments and
mean to try some. I daresay they will fail and I shall get laughed at.
I intend to do it nevertheless, so you had better drop me now
before I begin,” said Rose with an air of resolution that was rather
alarming.
“What shall you wear at this new sort of party of yours?” asked
Annabel, wisely turning a deaf ear to all delicate or dangerous
topics and keeping to matters she understood.
“That white thing over there. It is fresh and pretty, and Phebe has
one like it. I never want to dress more than she does, and gowns of
that sort are always most becoming and appropriate to girls of our
age.?
“Phebe! You don’t mean to say you are going to make a lady of
her! ” gasped Annabel, upsetting her treasures as she fell back with
a gesture that made the little chair creak again, for Miss Bliss was
as plump as a partridge.
“She is one already, and anybody who slights her slights me, for
she is the best girl I know and the dearest,” cried Rose warmly.
“Yes, of course I was only surprised you are quite right, for she
may turn out to be somebody, and then how glad you’ll feel that
you were so good to her!” said Annabel, veering around at once,
seeing which way the wind blew.
Before Rose could speak again, a cheery voice called from the
hall, “Little mistress, where are you??
“In my room, Phebe, dear,” and up came the girl Rose was going to