The next tray was filled with dresses,--dresses which made Hilda's eyes open wide again, as she laid them out, one by one, at full length.

There was a dark blue gingham with a red stripe, a brown gingham dotted with yellow daisies, a couple of light calicoes, each with a tiny figure or flower on it, a white lawn, and a sailor-suit of rough blue flannel.

All these dresses, and among them all not an atom of trimming.

No sign of an overskirt, no ruffle or puff, plaiting or ruching, no "Hamburg" or lace,--nothing! Plain round waists, neatly stitched at throat and wrists; plain round skirts, each with a deep hem, and not so much as a tuck by way of adornment.
Hildegarde drew a deep breath, and looked at the simple frocks with kindling eyes and flushing cheeks.

These were the sort of dresses that her mother's servants wore at home.