“How pretty!” exclaimed Miss Howard. “What put such a picturesque idea in your head? It is beautiful, and can be carried out admirably. You must be my fair and lovely lily; then shall come my violet and daffodil; then my narcissus and lilac; then my pansy and modest little snowdrop. That will exactly suit Helen.”
“Who are to be the bridesmaids?”
“Edith, May, Ruth, Marie, Natala and Helen.”
“How nice of you to choose all the younger girls; it makes us feel so important. Now, let’s plan just what the dresses are to be,” said Toinette, becoming quite excited, and looking at Miss Howard as though all must be completed ere they left the summer-house.
“I am waiting for your suggestions,” said she.
“Wouldn’t it be pretty to have all the dresses made of white chiffon, or something soft like that, and have white, violet and yellow slips under them? Then have the hats trimmed with the flowers they represent. Would you like that, Miss Howard?”
“Yes, immensely; but now I want to think about Helen. You know she has very limited means, and what might seem a small outlay for the others would probably be a large one for her, and I do not want to tax her resources, much as I wish to have her for one of my bonny maids.”
“Yes,” said Toinette, meditatively, “I suppose the dresses will be rather expensive, but it would be too bad not to have Helen; she is so sweet and is so fond of you, Miss Howard.”
“Yes, she is a dear child, and I have felt a great interest in her from the moment she entered the school. I wish I knew of some way of bettering her circumstances. Mr. Burgess is a most estimable man, but not one liable to advance rapidly through his own efforts, I fear. He is most reliable and capable, but seems to lack the push so essential in this bustling day and age. He would prove invaluable in any position of trust, but would never secure such if it depended upon his own efforts to do so.”
Toinette had listened very attentively while Miss Howard was talking, and when she finished said: