To say that Mrs. Weston was astonished when she had first looked upon the fashion plates would be to express it very mildly.

“Well, Janie Clifton!” she had ejaculated, “I can’t think er lettin’ you make Randy look like that!” as she pointed to the figure of a young girl in a street costume of flaming red, her head adorned with a walking hat which was decorated with a phenomenally long quill.

“Look at the toe er that shoe!” was the next remark.  “The whole foot ain’t bigger’n my spectacle case, and ’bout as much shape to it.”

But Janie comforted her by assuring her that the plates usually showed the extreme in fashion, and that Randy could be made to look very nice indeed without following exactly any one pattern in every detail.

Thus far Janie’s orders had been but a single dress for a customer, so she was much elated when commissioned to make three for Randy, and also to select and trim two hats for her.  Mrs. Weston’s idea of “one for best and one for everyday” had, by cautious urging upon Janie’s part, been stretched to the extent of adding “one more for second best.”

During the drive over to the “Emporium,” Janie asked abruptly, “Didn’t Miss Dayton say somethin’ ’bout a party in that letter she sent to Randy?”

“Why yes,” said Mrs. Weston, “she says that while Randy’s there, she’ll give a little party for her, but why did ye ask?”

“Well, I was thinkin’ that means a party dress,” remarked Janie.

“A party dress!” gasped Mrs. Weston in astonishment.  “Why that would be her best dress, wouldn’t it?  Probably that’s what the other girls would wear.”

Now it happened that during her apprenticeship Janie had helped to make a number of party dresses for young girls, so it was with a deal of assurance that she answered her patron.

“I don’t know what a lot of city misses would think if Miss Dayton was kind enough to give the party for Randy, and Randy appeared in just her best dress,” said Janie with a bit of emphasis.

“Well, well I didn’t know ye was expected ter dress different fer a party, excepting that ye’d likely ’nough dress up some.  Her father said when we started out this morning,

“’Git whatever Randy needs ter make her look right, and at the same time honor Miss Dayton, since she’s kind ‘nough to ask Randy to her home,’ so if she needs a party gown why we’ll choose one, but I tell ye again, Janie, don’t ye make her look like one er them wooden-lookin’ girls er prancin’ about on the fashion plates, fer I couldn’t stand that.”

With a commendable determination to make for Randy a dainty party gown which should at the same time be sufficiently simple in style to please Mrs. Weston, Janie chose a thin white muslin with white ribbons for its only trimming.

“I like that for a party dress, only it seems a little cool fer winter,” remarked Mrs. Weston, “but I s’pose she will wear extry flannels under it.”