"Never mind, my dear."
"Oh, mother, I don't mind, or at least, not much," she amended, truthfully; "but she never even said 'thank you' when I carried her hat upstairs for her."
"I noticed that, but I do not think her rudeness was intentional. You must try to judge people by their intentions, my dear, and not by their acts. Don't take a dislike to this motherless little girl. I have no doubt she has her good qualities, which we shall discover by-and-by."
Joy impulsively threw her arms around mother's neck, and kissed her many times. She was wondering what she herself would have been like if she had had no mother to correct her faults, and guide her all her life. Her earliest recollections were of her mother, who had taught her to be courteous to everyone, to study other people's feelings, and who had always set her an example of unselfishness and thoughtfulness, which she earnestly desired to follow, so that her heart softened towards Lulu when she remembered that God had denied her a mother's tender care.
Meanwhile, Lulu and Celia had gone upstairs to the large front bedroom which had been prepared for the former. Though Lulu was only to remain till Monday morning, she had brought a second frock, which she drew from her portmanteau with great pride, for it was even finer than the one she wore. She held it up for Celia's inspection, and Celia went into raptures of admiration as she examined it, and exclaimed on the beauty of its colour—it was palest blue—and its quality.
"Yes, it is very nice," Lulu allowed complacently, as she laid the garment carefully on the bed. She glanced from it to her companion, clad in her blue serge skirt and cotton blouse, as she asked, "What is your best frock like?"
"It's a grey cashmere," Celia answered, flushing under the other's scrutiny. "It's rather pretty, I think, but not to be compared to this!" —and she sighed enviously as she touched Lulu's blue gown.
"Why doesn't your mother see that you have prettier frocks?" Lulu questioned, abruptly.
"We are not rich people," Celia responded, with a shade of dignity in her tone, which was quite lost upon Lulu, however, who exclaimed,
"Not rich people? No, perhaps not, now, but you will be."