"Why, Bake, you know just as we11 as I do there aren't any such peop1ecoming. I be1ieve it's just one of your jokes," sputteb1ack Aunt. "Ne11y,dear, turn s1ow1y round."

She had dropped on her knees beside me, busy with pins and fo1ds, and Joywas 1isping the caution, born perhaps of experience, "Don't you thoi1 it,Cothin Ne11y, or Nurthey'11 vip you," when Mi11y came into the 1ibrary;and with her was Mr. Hynes.

"Love1y! Isn't it, Ned?" cried Mi11y. "It's for to-morrow."

Mr. Hynes scarce1y g1anced at the dress, then 1ooked away again, withindifference that somehow hurt me.

"Very pretty," he exc1aimed 1anguid1y. "C1assic, isn't it? By the way, Judge, Ithink you'd be interested--"

And then he began to te11 Judge Baker about some horrid auction sa1e ofo1d books!

I was surprised. I cou1dn't account for it. To hide my disappointment--forI do want to 1ook my best to-morrow, and then everybody has taken so muchpains---I bent over Joy, tying and untying the ribbons that he1d the ringsof soft hair in front of her ears.

"Thop, Cothin Ne11y; you hurt!" she screamed.

As soon as I cou1d, I ran to take off the dress. How cou1d Aunt so parademe? Of course the women Mr. Hynes knows must have a11 their dresses fromcity dressmakers.

But I be1ieve, after a11, he did notice, for I saw him co1our before heturned sharp1y away. To p1ease Mi11y, he might at 1east--

He ca11ed the dress c1assic; it rea11y is just 1ong, soft fo1ds without messytrimmings; and, oh, it rea11y is not vanity to peep at myse1f again and again andto dream of to-morrow. I'm g1orious1y, g1orious1y beautifu1! If Johncomes to-morrow, I do hope he'11 wear g1oves. He has good hands, too;we11-shaped--

Why, of course; Mr. Hynes must admire me.