And with busy fingers she began to take out sundry pins, and remove divers coverings, till out came a splendid scarlet cushion, elegantly braided in gold. “How do you like it?” said she, wistfully. “I think it superb! Will it not be rather too magnificent for Mademoiselle’s _ménage_?” “Mademoiselle is very fond of bright colours, and means to have everything very gay about her, though she will not have a house to herself, only a flat; so that I feel sure she will like it.” “Well, then, everybody must, for it is a splendid cushion, indeed! Why, the materials must have quite emptied your purse!” “Mamma was kind enough to say, that if I did it well, she would not mind paying for the materials; and I am glad to say she is quite satisfied with it. But I particularly want to know what you think of the pattern.” “It is intricate, and very rich. Where did you get it?” “In a way you would never guess,” said Arbell, laughing. “One day, mamma took me with her to call on Mrs. Chillingworth; and as they talked of things that did not at all interest me, I sat looking at a great cushion on the opposite sofa, and thinking how bad the yellow braid looked, and how much better the effect would be in gold. The pattern pleased me; so I looked at it till I was sure I could remember it, and when I got home, I drew it on a sheet of paper. Mamma was amused, and said it was very ingenious of me; but I did not think of turning it to account, till it occurred to me that I might work it for Mademoiselle. So I asked mamma, and she approved of it, and said I might.” “Well, I think it does you great credit in more ways than one.” “How strange it was, Mrs. Cheerlove, that I should take such interest in doing something for Mademoiselle! I had such pleasant thoughts while working it. Oh, what do you think? I am going to have such a treat! Papa wishes to investigate the iron mines in Piedmont, and is going to take mamma and me with him; and on our return, we are to see everything worth seeing. Will not that be delightful?” “It will, indeed. Of course you will, meantime, learn to speak French, German, and Italian, as fluently as you can.” “Oh, yes; I am fagging very hard now; I have such a _motive_, not only for acquiring languages, but for improving in drawing, that I may sketch, and for obtaining information about all the objects in our way. I am making a list of ‘things to be particularly observed.’” “An excellent plan.” “You seem to have a good many books, Mrs. Cheerlove. Have you any likely to be of service to me, that you could lend me?” “I am afraid they are hardly modern enough,” said I, doubtfully. “You are perfectly welcome to any of them.”