"Oh, not these ruffles, Phoebe! These are some of my best. Bring a pair of common ones--those with the box plaits.--What were you thinking about France?" "Oh, nothing particular. I was only--" "Never mind, if you don't want to tell," said Rhoda, graciously, now that her object was attained. "I wonder what new clothes Madam will give you. A camlet for best, I dare say, and duffel for every day. Don't you want to know?" "No, not very much." "I should, if I were you. I like to go fine. Not that she'll give _you_ fine things, you know--not likely. There! put my shoes out to clean, and tuck me up nicely, and then if you like you can go to bed. I shan't want anything more." Phoebe did as she was requested, and then knelt down. "I vow!" exclaimed her cousin, when she rose. "Do you say your prayers on Sunday nights? I never do. Why, we've only just been at it downstairs. And what a time you are! I'm never more than five minutes with mine!" "I couldn't say all I want in five minutes," replied Phoebe. "Want! why, what do you want?" said Rhoda. "I want nothing. I've got to do it--that's all." "Well, I dare say five minutes is enough for that," was the quiet reply from Phoebe. "But when people get into trouble, then they do want things." "Trouble! Oh, you don't know!" said Rhoda, loftily. "I've had heaps of trouble." "Have you?" innocently demanded Phoebe, in an interested tone. "Well, I should think so! More than ever you had." "What were they?" said Phoebe, in the same manner. "Why, first, my mother died when I was only a week old," explained Rhoda. "I suppose, you call that a trouble?" "Not when you were a week old," said Phoebe; "it would be afterwards-- with some people. But I should not think it was, much, with you. You have had Madam." "Well, then my father went off to London, and spent all his estate, that I should have had, and there was nothing left for me. That was a trouble, I suppose?" "If you had plenty beside, I should not think it was." "`Plenty beside!' Phoebe, you are the silliest creature! Why, don't you see that I should have been a great fortune, if I had had Peveril as well as White-Ladies? I should have set my cap at a lord, I can tell you. Only think, Phoebe, I should have had sixty thousand pounds. What do you say to that? Sixty thousand pounds!" "I should think it is more than you could ever spend." "Oh, I don't know about that," said Rhoda. "When White-Ladies is mine, I shall have a riding-horse and a glass coach; and I will have a splendid set of diamonds, and pearls too. They cost something, I can tell you. Oh, 'tis easy spending money. You'll see, when it comes to me." "Are you sure it will come to you?" "Why, of course it will!" exclaimed Rhoda, sitting up, and leaning on her elbow. "To whom else would Madam leave it, I should like to know! Why, you never expect her to give it to _you_, poor little white-faced thing? I vow, but that is a good jest!"