There was no question about that, for Mildred had the faculty of enjoying every little pleasure which came in her way, and that with a whole-heartedness and forgetfulness of drawbacks which would have been shared by few girls of her age. Bertha and Lois had a private consultation the first time they found themselves alone after the arrival of the invitation. "I am so glad Mil is to be with us for Mrs Newland's picnic," said the former. "I want her to see all the people, and I want them to see her. She will chatter away and not be in the least shy, and they will be charmed with her, for she does say such funny things! Even Father has to laugh sometimes. Er--Lois! I wonder what she is going to wear." "So do I!" said Lois calmly. "I've been wondering about that ever since the invitation came, and yet I don't see why we should, for she has nothing with her but the old school dresses, so how can there be any choice? She is certainly very shabby. It must be horrid to have no pretty clothes. I suppose they are very poor." "Oh, yes, I know they are! Mildred makes no secret of it. Poor dear! it is hard for her, when she is so well-connected, too," returned the dean's eldest daughter, in her funny, consequential, little voice. "Her grandmother was the daughter of a very well-known man--I forget who he was, but she told me one day, and I know it was someone important. She married without her parents' consent, and they never acknowledged her afterwards. When Mildred's mother was grown up, one of the aunts wished to adopt her as a companion, but Mrs Moore refused to go, because she would have had to promise to have nothing more to do with her parents. The old lady was dreadfully offended, and they have never heard of her since that day." "And a good thing, too, if she was like some old ladies we could mention!" said Lois sharply, whereat her sister first laughed, and then sighed. "Oh, well, it's no use saying anything about that! What were we talking about before--Mildred's dress? Well, there is one comfort--she always looks sweet. I dare say she will look one of the nicest there, though Mrs Newland's friends are so smart. Don't say anything to her about our new dresses. It might make her feel uncomfortable." There were no signs of discomfiture in Mildred's manner, however, when the new dresses arrived from town a week later on. She had been romping with the children in the garden, and came dancing in through the open window of the library to find Mrs Faucit, Lady Sarah, and the two girls grouped round the table on which lay two large cardboard boxes. The lids were thrown open, the tissue paper wrappings strewn over the floor, and Mildred, looking at the contents, gave a cry of pleasure and comprehension. "New dresses for the picnic! Oh, how lovely! Do let me look,"--and Lady Sarah's eye-glasses went up in horrified fashion as she swung herself on to the corner of the table in her anxiety to have a good view.