Part 18 (1/2)

”There's time enough for that,” said Mr. Clark, and then added, ”I want to speak to you about something else,” and he told the story of Emma's trouble. ”I thought perhaps you could--”

”Yes, indeed, I'm sure I can. Thank you for telling me,” she held out her hand. ”How kind you are, Mr. Clark! Good night.”

This makes it quite plain how Mrs. Morrison happened to walk into Mrs.

Bond's domain the next day with a white dress over her arm.

”I want you to look at this, Mrs. Bond,” she said. ”It is a dress I had made for Frances last spring, and by a mistake it was cut so short it had to be faced. Now she has outgrown it, and nothing can be done. Do you think Emma could wear it? Frances is a good deal taller. I have thought of offering it to you before, and now it has occurred to me that Emma may not have a dress ready to wear to the school entertainment,--Gladys was telling us about it yesterday,--and if you will accept it, it will be doing me a great favor. I dislike so to have it wasted.”

”It is a very pretty dress; it is too bad Frances can't wear it,” Mrs.

Bond remarked, examining it critically.

”Then you will let me give it to Emma?”

Emma's mother was not hard hearted; she liked to see her children happy, but she had a stern feeling that hards.h.i.+p was likely to be their lot in this world, and the sooner they became used to it the better. However, when her pride was convinced that Mrs. Morrison could not use the dress, she accepted it gratefully.

Emma's joy was beyond words, and she very much wondered how the Spectacle Man could have known that something was going to happen.

When the eventful day came, Mrs. Morrison rolled her hair for her and tied her long braids with b.u.t.terfly bows of red, white, and blue, and when she was dressed, Frances said, ”Why, Emma, I believe you are as pretty as Gladys!”

Certainly no little girl waved her flag with more enthusiasm, or rejoiced more truly in the celebration of Was.h.i.+ngton's Birthday.

CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH.

AT THE LOAN EXHIBIT.

Before the end of February there began to be hints of spring in the air; now and then there came a day so mild and fair it seemed to belong to April, and as the winter pa.s.sed it carried with it some at least of the cares that had for a while rested upon the inmates of the optician's house.

Frances and her mother rejoiced because every day brought nearer their traveller's return; Miss Moore, busy with the Easter work in her kindergarten, was finding a new meaning in the season; and even Lillian Sherwin felt now and then a thrill of joy that was like a prophecy of days to come, to her sore heart.

Mr. Clark was cheerful because he loved suns.h.i.+ne; and though he could not as yet see the way through his difficulties, he felt sure it was there, and that in good time he should find it.

The pleasure of Was.h.i.+ngton's Birthday lingered with Emma; the General, restored to health and amiability, was no longer such a care, and she found time once more to spend in that haven of delight upstairs with Frances.

George Was.h.i.+ngton was sent to the Loan Exhibit, together with the cabinet, some silver candlesticks, and the Wedgwood cream jug and sugar dish. With the blank s.p.a.ce over the mantel the study looked deserted; and the owl, deprived of his resting-place on the cabinet, perched forlornly on a corner of the bookcase.

Frances took great interest in the Exhibit, and insisted upon going, chiefly it seemed for the purpose of seeing how Was.h.i.+ngton looked in his new surroundings. As Mrs. Morrison was housed with a cold, Miss Sherwin offered to take her.

They found a beautiful display of valuable and interesting things arranged in a large, handsomely decorated hall; but not until Frances had viewed the portrait and made a diligent search for Mr. Clark's other possessions would she give any attention to less familiar things.

She and Lillian were bending with delight over a case of miniatures when she heard her name spoken, and turning, saw Mrs. Marvin.

”Do you like the miniatures?” the lady asked. ”Then come over to the other side; there is one there I want you to see.”

[Ill.u.s.tration: ”She pointed out a picture, set in diamonds”]

She pointed out a picture, set in diamonds, of a lovely young woman.

”How pretty! Is it you?” Frances asked, seeing a resemblance to the handsome face beside her.