Now, Hannah had once described to me the wonderful glories of a dress which had belonged to her mother, and which was lined with silk. She said she had bought it at a pawnbroker's, and she knew quite well the last owner had been a duchess, for only duchesses could afford to wear such an expensive thing as silk hidden away under the skirt. The bodice of this costume was as pretty as the skirt; it was also silk-lined, and full of little quaint puffings, and there was fur round the neck and on the cuffs. It fitted me to perfection, and I do think that even Dumps looked better in that dark-blue dress, with its grey fur, than I had believed it possible for her to appear in anything. But there were even further delights; for the dark-blue dress had a beautiful dark-blue coat to match, and there was a little grey fur cap to be worn with it, and a grey fur muff. Oh dear, dear, I was made! And yet there were further treasures to be revealed. I had not seen them before, but I had to put them on before I went down to breakfast-- neat stockings of the very finest cashmere, and little shoes with rosettes and buckles. There were also walking shoes of the most refined and delicate make. And, wonder of wonders! they fitted me. I felt indeed that I had come to Fairyland! Miss Donnithorne was far too much of a lady to make any remark when I came into the room in my dark-blue costume for breakfast. She hardly glanced at me, but went deliberately to the sideboard and began to carve some delicate slices of rosy ham. I sat down facing the fire. I felt almost self-conscious in the glories of that wonderful costume, and Miss Donnithorne must have guessed that I would have such feelings. She therefore began to talk in her most matter-of-fact style. "We shall have a very busy day, Rachel," she said. "There is not much time even for us to finish breakfast, for I have a class in the Sunday-school, and you, if you like, can come with me. Of course, if you prefer it, you can come to church later with Nancy." "Oh, I should much prefer to go with you," I replied. "That's right--that's right," said Miss Donnithorne. "After church we go straight to the Aldyces'; they'll take us in their carriage. We shall dine with them, and I think you might like Hermione to come back to have tea with us." "You are good," I said. "It does sound wonderful." Then I added, as I broke a piece of crisp toast in two, "I have never ridden in a carriage in all my life." "Oh, you are not at all remarkable in that," replied Miss Donnithorne in her frank way. "London girls, unless their fathers happen to be very rich, don't have carriages to drive in. But there is one thing I would bid you remember, Dumps." "What is that?" I asked, raising my eyes to her face.