She led the way around the room, introducing Betty to all the old family portraits, with interesting tales about each one.  Then she went back to her harp, and Betty sat down in front of the first picture again.  “You belong to me, too, in a way,” thought Betty, looking up at it.  “If you are my godmother’s mother, then you are my great-godmother, Amanthis, and I love you because you are so beautiful.”

The harp thrilled on, the fair face of the portrait seemed to smile back at her, and in some vague, sweet way Betty felt that she had come back to her own and had been welcomed home to the House Beautiful.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ENCHANTED NECKLACE.

Several days after Betty’s arrival, the Little Colonel went into her mother’s room with a troubled face.

“Mothah,” she said, anxiously, “what are we goin’ to do about the lawn fete at Anna Moore’s this afternoon?  Elizabeth hasn’t a thing to weah but that lawn dress that she has put on every evenin’ since she came, and it isn’t fresh enough.  I can’t lend her anything because I’m not quite as tall as she is, and my clothes would be too short.  What is she goin’ to do?”

“Ah, that is my secret, little daughter,” answered Mrs. Sherman, with a smile.  “What do you suppose I spent that hot morning in town for, the day after she came, and why, do you think, have I driven over so many times to see Miss Dean?  I have made at least six trips there.”

“Was it to get some clothes made for Elizabeth?” asked Lloyd.  A little expression of doubt showed in the anxious pucker of her forehead.  “But, mothah, she is awfully proud if she is poah.  Aren’t you afraid of hurtin’ her feelin’s?”

“There are a great many ways of giving gifts, little daughter.  If I provided her with clothes in a way to make her feel that I thought hers were too mean to be worn in my house, and that I was ashamed to have a guest of mine present such an appearance, that would naturally hurt her pride; but I have thought of a way that I am sure will please her.  If you will call her up-stairs in a few minutes, I will show you.  Where is she now?”

“Readin’ on the stair landin’.  At least she was when I came up.  She was in the window-seat.”

“Then wait until I take something into her room.  I’ll tell you when I am ready, and you may call her up.”

Lloyd hung over the banister in the upper hall until she heard a whispered “Ready;” then she called:  “Come up heah, Elizabeth, mothah wants us a minute in yo’ room.”

Mrs. Sherman was sitting by an open window with some sewing in her lap, when Lloyd and Betty skipped into the white and gold room.  Betty had a book in her hand with her finger between the closed pages, to keep the place.

[Illustration:  “BETTY BEGAN THE STORY.”]

“Elizabeth,” said Mrs. Sherman, “do you remember the story of the enchanted necklace that was in a book of fairy tales I sent you once?”