The dress fitted to a charm, and was pronounced by all beholders the
loveliest thing ever seen. Nothing was wanted but the wreath to make
it quite perfect, and when Marie returned, after a long search, with
no forget-me-nots, Belle was in despair.

"Wear natural ones," suggested a sympathizing friend.

But another hunt among greenhouses was as fruitless as that among
the milliners' rooms. No forget-me-nots could be found, and Marie
fell exhausted into a chair, desolated at what she felt to be an
awful calamity.

"Let me have the carriage, and I'll ransack the city till I find
some," cried Belle, growing more resolute with each failure.

Marnma was deep in preparations for the ball, and could not help her
afflicted daughter, though she was much disappointed at the mishap.
So Belle drove off, resolved to have her flowers whether there were
any or not.

Any one who has ever tried to match a ribbon, find a certain fabric,
or get anything done in a hurry, knows what a wearisome task it
sometimes is, and can imagine Belle's state of mind after repeated
disappointments. She was about to give up in despair, when some one
suggested that perhaps the Frenchwoman, Estelle Valnor, might make
the desired wreath, if there was time.

Away drove Belle, and, on entering the room, gave a sigh of
satisfaction, for a whole boxful of the loveliest forget-me-nots
stood upon the table. As fast as possible, she told her tale and