"They won't do, then, Miss. Nothing in the way of fine collars and capes will sell, unless they are French." Mary felt chilled at heart as Mrs.--said this, and commenced slowly rolling up her capes, faint with disappointment. As she was about turning from the counter, Mrs.--said, in rather an indifferent tone, "Suppose you let me look at them." "I am sure you will think them very beautiful," Mary replied, quickly unrolling her little bundle. "They have been wrought with great care."' "Sure enough, they are quite well done," Mrs.--said, coldly, as she glanced her eyes over the capes. "Almost equal in appearance to the French. But they are only domestic; and domestic embroidered work won't bring scarcely anything. What do you ask for these?" "We have set no price upon them; but think that they are richly worth five or six dollars apiece." "Five or six dollars!" ejaculated Mrs.--, in well feigned surprise, handing back; suddenly, the capes. "O! no, Miss;--American goods don't bring arty such prices." "Then what will you give for them, Madam?" "If you feel like taking two dollars apiece for them, you can leave them. But I am not particular," Mrs.--said, in a careless tone. "Two dollars!" repeated Mary, in surprise. "Surely, Mrs.--, they are worth more than two dollars apiece!" "I'm not at all anxious to give you even that for them," said Mrs.--. "Not at all; for I am by no means sure that I shall ever get my money back again." "You will have to take them, then, I suppose," Mary replied, in a disappointed and desponding tone. "Very well, Miss, I will give you what I said." And Mrs.--took the capes, and handed Mary Graham four dollars in payment. "If we should conclude to work any more, may we calculate on getting the same money for them?" "I can't say positively, Miss; but I think that you may calculate on that price for as many as you will bring." Mary took the money, and turned away. It was only half an hour after, that Mrs.--sold one of them, as "French," for twelve dollars! Sadly, indeed, were the sisters disappointed at this result. But nothing better offering that they could do, they devoted themselves, late and early, to their needles, the proceeds of which rarely went over five dollars per week; for two years they continued to labour thus.