And that money of Uncle Ben's--it might have been kinder--after all he wanted me to look nice'-- She sat ruefully on the ground beside her trunk, turning the things over, in a misery of annoyance and mortification; half inclined to laugh too as she remembered the seamstress in the small New England country town, who had helped her own hands to manufacture them.

'Well, Miss Lucy, your uncle's done real handsome by you.

I guess he's set you up, and no mistake.
There's no meanness about him!' And she saw the dress on the stand--the little blonde withered head of the dressmaker--the spectacled eyes dwelling proudly on the masterpiece before them .-- Alack! There rose up the memory of little Mrs.Lewinson at Florence--of her gently pursed lips--of the looks that were meant to be kind, and were in reality so critical.
No matter.

The choice had to be made; and she chose at last a blue and white check that seemed to have borne its travels better than the rest.

It had looked so fresh and striking in the window of the shop whence she had bought it.