“Fer the land sakes!” ejaculated the grandmother.  “Wall, now, if that don’t beat all!” then after a minute:  “The impertinent fellow!  And the impidence of the woman!  Thank me fer my kindness to me own grandchild!  I’d thank her to mind her business, but then that’s just like her.”

“Her nest is certainly well feathered,” said Aunt Nan enviously.  “I only wish Lizzie had such a chance.”

Said Lizzie:  “It’s awful queer, her looking like that, too, in that crazy rig!  Well, I’m glad she’s gone, fer she was so awful queer it was jest fierce.  She talked religion a lot to the girls, and then they laughed at her behind her back; and they kep’ a telling me I’d be a missionary ’fore long if she stayed with us.  I went to Mr. Wray, the manager, and told him my cousin was awfully shy, and she sent word she wanted to be excused fer running away like that.  He kind of colored up, and said ’twas all right, and she might come back and have her old place if she wanted, and he’d say no more about it.  I told him I’d tell her.  But I guess her acting up won’t do me a bit of harm.  The girls say he’ll make up to me now.  Wish he would.  I’d have a fine time.  It’s me turn to have me wages raised, anyway.  He said if Bess and I would come to-morrow ready to stay in the evening, he’d take us to a show that beat everything he ever saw in Philadelphia.  I mean to make him take me, anyway.  I’m just glad she’s out of the way.  She wasn’t like the rest of us.”

Said Mrs. Brady:  “It’s the Bailey in her.  But she said she’d come back and see me, didn’t she?” and the grandmother in her meditated over that fact for several minutes.

CHAPTER XIV

IN A NEW WORLD

Meantime the panorama of Elizabeth’s life passed on into more peaceful scenes.  By means of the telephone and the maid a lot of new and beautiful garments were provided for her, which fitted perfectly, and which bewildered her not a little until they were explained by Marie.  Elizabeth had her meals up-stairs until these things had arrived and she had put them on.  The texture of the garments was fine and soft, and they were rich with embroidery and lace.  The flannels were as soft as the down in a milkweed pod, and everything was of the best.  Elizabeth found herself wishing she might share them with Lizzie,—­Lizzie who adored rich and beautiful things, and who had shared her meagre outfit with her.  She mentioned this wistfully to her grandmother, and in a fit of childish generosity that lady said:  “Certainly, get her what you wish.  I’ll take you downtown some day, and you can pick out some nice things for them all.  I hate to be under obligations.”

A dozen ready-made dresses had been sent out before the first afternoon was over, and Elizabeth spent the rest of the day in trying on and walking back and forth in front of her grandmother.  At last two or three were selected which it was thought would “do” until the dressmaker could be called in to help, and Elizabeth was clothed and allowed to come down into the life of the household.