"Oh," she said, "I want to see the table when it's all set and the good things on it! I wonder if papa will let me eat any of them."
"Maybe," said Agnes; "but you know, Miss Grace, yo's sickly,—leastways, not bery strong,—and de doctah doan' let you eat rich things."
"No," returned the little girl, sighing slightly, "but I do have a good many nice things; and I'd rather eat plain victuals than be weak and sick. Wouldn't you, Agnes?"
"Yaas, I reckon. Dere, you's done finished, Miss Gracie, and looks sweet as a rosebud."
"So she does," said Lulu, coming hurrying in from her room, arrayed in her pretty cashmere, and with a wide, rich sash-ribbon in her hand. "Now, Agnes, if you will please tie my sash, I'll be 'done finished' too."
"O Lu!" exclaimed Grace in loving admiration, "I'm sure you must look twice as sweet and pretty as I do."
Their father opened the door, and stepped in just in time to hear her words, and, glancing smilingly from one to the other, said, "To papa's eyes, both his dear little girls look sweet and lovable. Agnes, their appearance does you credit. Now, my darlings, we will go down to tea, for there is the bell."
"Have the folks come, papa?" asked Grace, putting her hand into his.
"No, daughter: they will probably not begin to come for an hour or so."
"Then, are we going to have two suppers?"