To be hers! It took her breath away; it was impossible to prefer amid such equal beauty. Somehow Beth knew that a long coat, soft white furs, three hats of various types, each perfect of its kind; several dear, simple house gowns, street gowns, party gowns, frail white guimpes, shoes, an eider-down wrapper that made one long to be a little ill to wear it all day; a cunning miniature dressing wrap, like a grown lady’s, bedroom slippers, dancing slippers, a fan, gloves, and at last a bathing suit, had all been ordered home by her aunt--and they were all, all for Beth Bristead! Beth walked behind her aunt to the ribbon counter where she bought a quantity of soft, wide ribbons, “for your hair, little Beth,” Aunt Alida explained. For her hair! The beautiful ribbon that Aunt Rebecca’s sewing society had bought to make a ruffle around the sofa pillow they raffled at the fair was not as fine as these ribbons! Beth pinched herself; she was in an ecstasy, but it couldn’t possibly be real! She experimented with her soft flesh to see if it still was hurtable, every-day, little girl flesh. “Now, Beth dear, we are going to lunch,” announced Aunt Alida. “I have had a few things sent out to the carriage for you to wear at once, and the rest will be delivered by to-night. I am ravenously hungry! Aren’t you hungry, little niece? You look--well, you look dazed, but I’m glad to say I think you look happy. Aren’t you hungry?” “No, Aunt Alida, thank you; I’m not hungry--I’m a changeling,” said Beth solemnly. “Which is a totally different complaint,” laughed Aunt Alida. “You funny morsel of a lassie! Aren’t you fond of pretty things, Bethie? Isn’t it fun to be a changeling? I give you my word I’ve had a perfectly beautiful time playing the fairy that changes you! Aren’t you happy, little niece?” “Happy! Happy!” echoed Beth in a rapture beyond expressing. CHAPTER IV THE FAIRY-LAND CHILDREN Beth and her aunt came home a little before three. Luncheon in a hotel restaurant, Pompeian red and bronze in coloring, with flowers on every table and ladies at every table, also, whom one could hardly tell from the flowers, and an orchestra playing such music as Beth had never heard, completed the bewilderment of the morning. The little girl returned to her uncle’s house like a small blossom overfull of honey; she had seen so many splendors that she could take in no more. Mrs. Hodgman followed Mrs. Cortlandt to her sitting-room where Beth had also been taken. “Mrs. Cortlandt,” the housekeeper began, “I have arranged for a maid for Miss Beth, if you approve. Frieda would be glad to serve the young lady. There is a maid whom I can take on in Frieda’s place, if you are satisfied to promote Frieda to the position of Miss Beth’s maid.”