The table was now strewn with pieces of morocco, of all sizes and colours, which were hastily turned over and examined with eager hands and sparkling eyes. Some were mere scraps, to be sure; but others showed a breadth and length of beauty which was declared to be "first-rate," and "fine;" and one beautiful large piece of blue morocco in particular was made up in imagination by two or three of the party in as many different ways. Marianne wanted it for a book-cover; Margaret declared she could make a lovely reticule with it; and Ellen could not help thinking it would make a very pretty needlebox, such a one as she had seen in the possession of one of the girls, and longed to make for Alice. "Well, what's to be done now?" said Miss Sophia— "or am I not to know?" "Oh, you're not to know — you're not to know, Aunt Sophy," cried the girls — "you mustn't ask." "I'll tell you what they are going to do with 'em," said George Walsh, coming up to her with a mischievous face, and adding in a loud whisper, shielding his mouth with his hand — "they're going to make pr —" He was laid hold of forcibly by the whole party, screaming and laughing, and stopped short from finishing his speech. "Well, then, I'll take my departure," said Miss Sophia — "but how will you manage to divide all these scraps!" "Suppose we were to put them in the bag again, and you hold the bag, and we were to draw them out without looking," said Ellen Chauncey — "as we used to do with the sugar-plums." As no better plan was thought of, this was agreed upon; and little Ellen shutting up her eyes very tight, stuck in her hand and pulled out a little bit of green morocco about the size of a dollar. Ellen Montgomery came next; then Margaret, then Marianne, then their mutual friend Isabel Hawthorn. Each had to take her turn a great many times; and at the end of the drawing, the pieces were found to be pretty equally divided among the party, with the exception of Ellen, who, besides several other good pieces, had drawn the famous blue. "That will do very nicely," said little Ellen Chauncey — "I am glad you have got that, Ellen. Now, Aunt Sophy! — one thing more — you know the silks and ribbons you promised us?" "Bless me! I haven't done yet, eh? Well, you shall have them; but we are all going out to walk now; I'll give them to you this afternoon. Come! put these away, and get on your bonnets and cloaks." A hard measure! but it was done. After the walk came dinner; after dinner, Aunt Sophia had to be found and waited on, till she had fairly sought out and delivered to their hands the wished-for bundles of silks and satins. It gave great satisfaction. "But how shall we do about dividing these?" said little Ellen — "shall we draw lots again?"