was; 'Toinette threw her far into the shade in the matter of statuesque splendor; but still it was Dolly who did all the difficult things, and had divers tragic adventures with questionable adorers, whose name was legion, and who were a continual source of rejoicing and entertainment to the family.     

       Having tossed hat and shawl on to the table, among the manuscript music, paint-brushes, and palettes, this young person slipped into the most comfortable chair near the fire, and, having waited for the rest to seat themselves, proceeded to open the council. Mollie, who was sixteen, large,       fair, beautiful, and not as tidy as she might have been, dropped into a not ungraceful position at her feet. Aimée, who was a little maiden with a tender, spirituelle face, and all the forethought of the family, sat near, with some grave perplexity in her expression. 'Toinette and Tod, posed in the low nursery-chair,—the girl's firm, white arm flung around the child,—swung lightly to and fro, fit models for an artist.     

       “You would make a first-class picture,—the lot of you,” commented Phil, amicably.     

       “Never mind the picture,” said Mollie, drawing her disreputable slippers up under her wrapper. “We want to hear how Dolly thinks of going to the Bilberrys'. Oh, Dolly, how heavenly it would be if you had a turquoise-blue sat—”      

       “Heavenly!” interrupted Dolly. “I should think so. Particularly celestial for Lady Augusta, who looks mahogany-colored in it, and peculiarly celestial for a poor relation from Vagabondia. It would be as much as my reputation was worth. She would never forgive me. You must learn discretion, Mollie.”      

       “There is some consolation in knowing you can't get it,” said 'Toinette.       “You won't be obliged to deny yourself or be indiscreet. But what are you going to wear, Dolly?”      

       “That is for the council to decide,” Dolly returned. “First, we must settle on what we want, and then we must settle on the way to get it.”      

       “Other people go the other way about it,” said Aimée.     

       “If we were only rich!” said Mollie.     

       “But it is a most glaringly patent fact that we are not,” said Dolly.       

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