III. December snow was falling fast, and the wintry wind whistled through the streets; but it was warm and cosey in the luxurious parlor where Di and Do were sitting making Christmas presents, and planning what they would wear at the party Fanny was to give on Christmas Eve. "If I can get mamma to buy me a new dress, I shall have something yellow. It is always becoming to brunettes, and I ’m so tired of red," said Di, giving a last touch to the lace that trimmed a blue satin _sachet_ for Fanny. "That will be lovely. I shall have pink, with roses of the same color. Under muslin it is perfectly sweet." And Dora eyed the sunflower she was embroidering as if she already saw the new toilet before her. "Fan always wears blue, so we shall make a nice contrast. She is coming over to show me about finishing off my banner-screen; and I asked Sophie to come with her. I want to know what _she_ is going to wear," said Di, taking a little sniff at the violet-scented bag. "That old white cashmere. Just think! I asked her why she did n’t get a new one, and she laughed and said she could n’t afford it. Fan told me Sophie’s father sent her a hundred dollars not long ago, yet she has n’t got a thing that we know of. I do think she ’s mean." "She bought a great bundle of books. I was there when the parcel came, and I peeped while she was out of the room, because she put it away in a great hurry. I ’m afraid she _is_ mean, for she never buys a bit of candy, and she wears shabby boots and gloves, and she has made over her old hat instead of having that lovely one with the pheasant’s breast in it." "She’s very queer; but I can’t help liking her, she’s so pretty and bright and obliging. I ’d give anything if I could speak three languages and play as she does." "So would I. It seems so elegant to be able to talk to foreigners. Papa had some Frenchmen to dinner the other day, and they were so pleased to find they need n’t speak English to Sophie. I could n’t get on at all; and I was so mortified when papa said all the money he had spent on my languages was thrown away." "I would n’t mind. It’s so much easier to learn those things abroad, she would be a goose if she did n’t speak French better than we do. There’s Fan! she looks as if something had happened. I hope no one is ill and the party spoiled." As Dora spoke, both girls looked out to see Fanny shaking the snow from her seal-skin sack on the doorstep; then Do hastened to meet her, while Di hid the _sachet_, and was hard at work on an old-gold sofa cushion when the new-comer entered. "What’s the matter? Where’s Sophie?" exclaimed the girls together, as Fan threw off her wraps and sat down with a tragic sigh.