“Why, Mary Louise! I thought you especially liked those dresses. What’s the matter with them?”
“Nothing. I do like them a lot. That’s why I chose them. I want to give them to a girl who hasn’t had a new dress for over two years.”
“Who is she?” asked Mrs. Gay sympathetically.
“A niece of old Miss Grant. You know—that queer old maid who lives at Dark Cedars. About a mile out of town.”
Her mother nodded.
“Yes, I know where you mean, dear. But that woman is reputed to be rich—much better off than we are. I can’t understand——”
“Of course you can’t, Mother, unless you see poor Elsie Grant. She’s about my age—a year younger, to be exact—and she’s an orphan. Two years ago, when her mother died, she came to live with Miss Grant because she hadn’t anywhere to go and no money. And the old lady treats her shamefully. Dresses her in those old calico dresses that servants used to wear years ago. So Elsie can’t go anywhere, not even to school.”
Mrs. Gay’s lips closed tightly, and her eyes narrowed.
“So that’s the kind of woman Miss Grant is!” she muttered. “I always knew she was queer, but I never thought she was cruel.... Yes, of course you can give the girl some clothing, dear. Go pick out anything you want, except those brand-new things we bought last week for our trip in August.”
Mary Louise lost no time in making her selection. She piled the clothing on her bed, after she had put her room in order, and called her mother in for her approval. But before tying up the package she whistled for Jane from her window.