Mrs. Claudine, though a little vain, and fond of excelling, was a woman of kind feelings, and entirely superior to the petty jealousies that annoyed Mrs. Ballman, and soured her towards all who succeeded in rivalling her in matters of taste and fashion.  Of what was passing in the mind of the lady who had been so troubled at her reception of a new style of bonnet from New York, she was entirely ignorant.  She was not even aware that Mrs. Ballman had ordered the same article, nor that she had suffered a disappointment.

Saturday came.  Mrs. Claudine was busy over some little article of dress that was to add to her appearance on the next day, when an Irish girl, who had formerly lived with her, entered her room.

“Ah!  Kitty!” said the lady pleasantly.  “How do you do?”

“I’m right well, mum, thankee,” replied Kitty, with a courtesy.

“Where do you live now, Kitty?” inquired Mrs. Claudine.

“I’m living with Mrs. Ballman,” said the girl.

“A very good place, I have no doubt.”

“Oh, yes, mum.  It is a good place.  I hain’t much to do, barrin’ going out with the children on good days, and seein’ after them in the house; and I get good wages.”

“I’m very glad to hear it, Kitty; and hope you will not give up so good a home.”

“No, indeed, mum; and I won’t do that.  But Mrs. Claudine—­”

Kitty’s face flushed, and she stammered in her speech.

“What do you wish to say?” inquired the lady, seeing that Kitty hesitated to speak of what was on her mind.

“Indade, mum,” said Kitty, evincing much perplexity, “I hardly know what I ought to do.  But yez were good to me, mum, when I was sick and didn’t send me off to the poor house like some girls are sent; and I never can forget yez while there’s breath in me body.  And now I’ve come to ask yez, just as a favor to me, not to wear that new bonnet from New York, to-morrow.”

It was some moments before, the surprise occasioned by so novel and unexpected a request left Mrs. Claudine free to make any reply.

“Why, Kitty!” she at length exclaimed, “what on earth can you mean?”

“Indade, mum, and yez mustn’t ask me what I mane, only don’t wear the bonnet to church on the morrow, because—­because—­och, indade, mum, dear!  I can’t say any more.  It wouldn’t be right.”

Mrs. Claudine told Kitty to sit down, an invitation which the girl, who was much agitated, accepted.  The lady then remained silent and thoughtful for some time.

“Kitty,” she remarked, at length, in a serious manner, “what you have said to me sounds very strangely.  How you should know that I intended appearing in a new bonnet to-morrow, or why you should be so much interested in the matter is more than I can understand.  As to acting as you desire, I see no reason for that whatever.”