'If you would like a basket,' said Rollo coolly, pulling some of his wickerware into line, 'you may have one. I can afford it.' 'May I have one too?' queried Molly. 'Help yourself.—Mrs. Powder, you are a housekeeper—are there none among all these varieties that would serve a purpose for you? Mrs. Charteris, aren't you fond of flowers? I will bestow upon you this big flower-holder.' It was one of the best specimens of the poor basket-maker's work, being a delicate wicker stand, pretty enough for the drawing-room or a boudoir. Josephine silently accepted the gift, looking at it with strange eyes; while Molly set about a search for what might serve her turn. Mrs. Powder sat as a spectator, curious, and at the same time amused. 'We have got more than baskets here,' Rollo went on, pulling off twine and paper. 'Here is a tea-kettle. Who wants this article?— Here is an hour-glass.' 'O let me have that!' quoth Molly Seaton. 'I never saw an hour- glass before. What's this in it?' 'Minutes and seconds,' said Josephine. 'No, but really. It would be dreadful to see one's minutes and seconds running away in this manner. What is this in the glass?' 'Did you never hear of the sands of life, child?' said Mrs. Powder. 'They were brought from the shores of time, too,' added Josephine, 'by an adventurous traveller.' 'What is it?' cried a lively voice from the again opening door. 'A reception at the opening of spring goods? I come in, because I hear sounds—' And Miss Kitty Fisher presented herself, stopping just inside the door. 'I do vow!' she said. '_What_ is it?—"All for Love"? or "She stoops to Conquer"? Katharine and Petruchio seems to be played out. Well, if I were a turtledove in a big cage!'— 'You would coo, I suppose,' said Josephine scornfully. 'Turtledoves always do, and they are a great humbug.' 'I should doubtless bob my head to the other turtledove,' said Kitty, making a profound reverence to the gentleman present. Rollo came forward and offered the lady his arm; then gravely led her across the big room among baskets and packages to where Wych Hazel was seated on her low cushion. 'Duchess,' said he with stately form, 'Primrose's cousin Kitty desires to be recommended to your grace.' 'No, I don't,' said Kitty. 'That's a fib. The duchess and I were well "acquaint" when Duke did not stand quite so high in favour. But I am thankful for my part, you two people have given up mischief and settled down. Sit still among your baskets, child; they become you.' 'Perhaps you will sit down among the baskets too,' said Dane. 'Don't you want one?' 'It's only to look and choose, Kitty,' said Molly Seaton. 'Such another chance you won't have again.' 'If you have one large enough to hold her valentines,' said Hazel with a glance at "Duke,"—'that might do.'