"I like it," said Celeste, "because it takes me among nice people. They're mostly good to me." "My ladies are nice to me, too," observed Anna. "I only sew in nice houses. But I don't see the ladies much. It's different with you, Miss Arleson." "Well, I don't see nice ladies," broke in Jenny. "My, how those queens of society can snap at you! Seems 'if they blame me for everything: the stock, the price, the slow cash boys,--whatever bothers 'em, it's all my fault." "That is unkind," said Clementine. "But shopping does make some people cross." "Indeed it does!" returned Jenny. "But I'm going to forget it just for to-day. When I sit here and see these things, all so beautiful and sparkly and bright, I pretend there isn't any shop or shopping in all the world." Jenny's smile was almost roguish, and lighted up her pale face till she looked almost pretty. Then they had coffee, and snapping crackers with caps inside, and they put on the caps and laughed at each other's grotesque appearance. Mrs. Greene's cap was a tri-corne, with a gay cockade, which gave her a militant air, quite in keeping with her strong face. Patty had a ruffled night-cap, which made her look grotesque, and Anna Gorman had a frilled sunbonnet. Celeste had a Tam o' Shanter, which just suited her piquant face, and Jenny had a Scotch cap, which became her well. "Now," said Mona, as she rose from the table, "I'm going to give you each a bunch of these carnations----" "To take home?" broke in Jenny, unable to repress her eagerness. "Yes; and I'll have them put in boxes for you, along with your cards and souvenirs, which, of course, you must take home also. And, if there's room, I'll put in some of these Christmas tree thingamajigs, and you can use them for something at Christmas time." "Oh!" exclaimed Jenny; "maybe my two kid brothers won't just about go crazy over 'em! Says I to myself, just the other day, 'What's going in them kids' stockings is more'n I know; but something there must be.' And,--here you are!" "Here you are!" said Mona, tucking an extra snapping cracker or two in Jenny's box. "We plan to go for a motor ride, now," said Mona. "I wonder if you girls are dressed warmly enough." All declared that they were, but Mona provided several extra cloaks and wraps, lest any one should take cold. "We have two cars for our trip," she explained; "Miss Farrington's limousine and my own. Has any one any preference which way we shall go?" "Well," said Mrs. Greene, "if you ask me, I'd like best to ride up Fifth Avenue. There ought to be some fine show of dress, a bright afternoon like this. And there ain't anything I admire like stylish clothes. That's a real handsome gown you got on, Miss Fairfield." "Do you like it?" said Patty, smiling. "Yes, I do. It's fashionable of cut, and yet it ain't drawed so tight as some. And a becomin' colour, too."