How many old gowns have we ?" The number was few.

Nothing in the Leaf family was ever cast off till its very last extremity of decay; the talent that "Gars auld claes look amaist as gude's the new" being specially possessed by Hilary.

She counted over her own wardrobe and Johanna's but found nothing that could be spared.
"Yes, my love, there is one thing.

You certainly shall never put on that old brown merino again; though you have laid it so carefully by, as if you meant it to come out as fresh as ever next winter.

No, Hilary, you must have a new gown, and you must give Elizabeth your brown merino." Hilary laughed, and replied not.
Now it might be a pathetic indication of a girl who had very few clothes, but Hilary had a superstitious weakness concerning hers .-- Every dress had its own peculiar chronicle of the scenes where it had been, the enjoyments she had shared in it.