Grace was a favorite with Agnes as with all the servants at Ion.

"Ya'as, I'll dress yo' up fine, Miss Gracie, and make yo' look putty as
a pink," she said, beginning her task.

"Lots ob folks comin' to-night, honey, and grand doin's gwine on in de
kitchen and de dinin'-room. Dere's a long table sot out in de bigges'
dinin'-room, and heaps and heaps ob splendiferous china dishes, wid
fruits and flowahs painted onto 'em, and silverware bright as de sun,
and glass dishes dat sparkle like Miss Elsie's di'mon's; and in de
kitchen dey's cookin' turkeys and chickens, and wild game ob warious
kinds, and oysters in warious styles; 'sides all de pastry and cakes and
fruits and ices, and--oh, I cayn't begin to tell yo' all de good things
the captain has perwided! dere wasn't never nuffin' grander at Ion or
Wiamede or de Oaks, or any ob de grand places belongin' to our
fam'lies."

Grace was a highly interested listener.

"Oh," she said, "I want to see the table when it's all set and the good
things on it! I wonder if papa will let me eat any of them."

"Maybe," said Agnes; "but you know, Miss Grace, yo's sickly,--leastways,
not bery strong,--and de doctah doan' let you eat rich things."

"No," returned the little girl, sighing slightly, "but I do have a good
many nice things; and I'd rather eat plain victuals than be weak and
sick. Wouldn't you, Agnes?"