Mrs. Halfpenny then observed that the frock which had been worn for the
last two days on the railway, and evening and morning, needed a better
brushing and setting to rights than she had had time to give it. She
had better take out another. Which box were her frocks in?

Dolores expected her heartless relations to insist on her leaving off
her mourning, and she knew she ought to struggle and shed tears over
it; but, to tell the truth, she was a good deal tired of her hot and
fusty black; and when she had followed Mrs. Halfpenny into a passage
where the boxes stood uncorded; and the first dress that came to light
was a pretty fresh-looking holland that had been sent home just before
the accident, she exclaimed--

'Oh, let me put that on.'

'Bless me, miss, it has blue braid, and you in mourning for your poor
mamma!'

Dolores stood abashed, but a grey alpaca, which she had always much
disliked, came out next, and Mrs. Halfpenny decided that with her black
ribbons that would do, though it turned out to be rather shockingly
short, and to show a great display of black legs; but as the box
containing the clothes in present wear had not come to hand, this must
stand for the present--and besides, a voice was heard, saying, 'Is Dora
ready?' and a young person darted up, put her arms round her neck, and
kissed her before she knew what she was about. 'Mamma said I should
come because I am just your age, thirteen and a half,' she said. 'I'm
Mysie, though my proper name is Maria Millicent.'

Dolores looked her over. She was a good deal taller than herself, and