{{betlep089.png}}

countess, and Betty's smile extended into laughter
with the rest.

At the close of the meal, Lucia led Betty
upstairs again; but they were passed by Mr.
Murchison, who patted Lucia's shoulder as he
went up and said to Betty that he hoped she
would have a pleasant visit. "Make her have
a good time, Lucia," said he, starting up the
second flight.

"I'll try to do so," replied Lucia.

The girls turned into Lucia's room and
changed their frocks for comfortable kimonos.
Had Betty been at home, she would have put on
her thick bath robe; but she had brought her
silk kimono as appropriate to this visit. Lucia's
negligee was a pretty affair, and Lucia
apologized for the absence of the maid by saying
that she would be having her dinner now, she
supposed. Lucia tossed her clothes on a chair
and her bed, for the maid to put away, Betty
supposed; but Betty carried hers into her own
room and hung them carefully in a closet, not
only because she had been taught to do so, for
Betty was no angel or averse to letting things
go at times, but because she wanted her
garments to keep on looking well while she was
here and she did not want to seem to impose
upon the service offered. Betty did not mind

 [[89]]