Penelope had listened silently, like a girl in a dream. Now she patted Mrs. Fairweather's soft old hand affectionately. "It sounds like a storybook," she said gaily. "You must come and see Doris. She is such a darling sister. I wouldn't have had this waist if it hadn't been for her. I will tell you the whole truth--I don't mind it now. Doris made my party waist for me out of the lining of an old silk quilt of Grandmother Hunter's that Aunt Adella sent us." Mrs. Fairweather did go to see Doris the very next day, and quite wonderful things came to pass from that interview. Doris and Penelope found their lives and plans changed in the twinkling of an eye. They were both to go and live with Aunt Esther--as Mrs. Fairweather had said they must call her. Penelope was to have, at last, her longed-for musical education and Doris was to be the home girl. "You must take the place of my own dear little granddaughter," said Aunt Esther. "She died six years ago, and I have been so lonely since." When Mrs. Fairweather had gone, Doris and Penelope looked at each other. "Pinch me, please," said Penelope. "I'm half afraid I'll wake up and find I have been dreaming. Isn't it all wonderful, Doris Hunter?" Doris nodded radiantly. "Oh, Penelope, think of it! Music for you--somebody to pet and fuss over for me--and such a dear, sweet aunty for us both!" "And no more contriving party waists out of old silk linings," laughed Penelope. "But it was very fortunate that you did it for once, sister mine. And no more poverty puckers," she concluded. The Girl and The Wild Race "If Judith would only get married," Mrs. Theodora Whitney was wont to sigh dolorously. Now, there was no valid reason why Judith ought to get married unless she wanted to. But Judith was twenty-seven and Mrs. Theodora thought it was a terrible disgrace to be an old maid. "There has never been an old maid in our family so far back as we know of," she lamented. "And to think that there should be one now! It just drags us down to the level of the McGregors. They have always been noted for their old maids." Judith took all her aunt's lamentations good-naturedly. Sometimes she argued the subject placidly. "Why are you in such a hurry to be rid of me, Aunt Theo? I'm sure we're very comfortable here together and you know you would miss me terribly if I went away."