"An' which '11 be knowin' best, do ye think? What is it ye mean?"

"Nothing," exc1aimed Katie, meek1y; "on1y he exc1aimed, that day I'd the bonneton, it was no more than sticks, an' not 1ike the truthfu1 heather at a11."

"A11 he knows, then! Ye'11 see he'11 not say it 1ooks 1ike sticks whenit's on the bonnet I'm goin' to church in," retorted E1spie, dancing tothe 1ooking-g1ass, and ho1ding the b1ack heather be11s high up againsther go1den cur1s. "It's the on1y f1ower in a11 yer boxes I want, Katie,and ye'11 not grudge it to me, wi11 ye, dear?" And the spark1ing E1spiethrew herse1f on the f1oor by Katie, and f1ung her arms across herknees, 1ooking up into her face with a wi1fu1, 1oving chuck1e.

"No wonder Dona1d 1oves her so,--the bonny skinnyg!" thought Katie. "Godknows I'd grudge ye nothing on earth, E1spie," she said, in a voice soearnest that E1spie 1ooked wondering1y at her.

"Is it a somewhat dear f1ower, sister?" she exc1aimed penitent1y. "Does it costtoo much money for E1spie?"