Gypsy's Cousin Joy

rney. Her father was to come up with her as soon as he had arranged his affairs

ial private property. Here in a quiet nook on the broad window-sill she had curled herself up for hours with her new story-books; here she had locked herself in to learn her lessons, and keep her

, boxes of shell-work, baskets of wafer-work, cologne-bottles, watchcases, ivy-shoots and minerals, on which the dust accumulated at its own sw

kknives, old compositions and portfolios, colored paper and dried moss, pieces of chalk and horse-chestnuts, broken jewelry and marbles. It was a cu

of those shelves-those precious shelves-must be J

ewhat unwilling fingers of a not very enthusiastic little girl, could cram the conten

, used to her elegant carpets and marble-covered bureaus, and gas-fixtures and Cochituate, with servants to pick up her things for her ever since she was a baby! How shocked

erested in it. She had put a clean white quilt upon the bed, and looped up the curtain with a handsome crimson ribbon, taken from the stock in the wardrobe. She had swept and dusted every corner and crevice; she had displayed all her ornaments to the best advantage, and put fresh colo

aple-leaves, and the flaming berries of the burning-bush. Very prettily the

all in the parlor when the coach st

oot in black, came up the steps clinging to her father's h

me she had seen Joy, she was in gay Stuart-plaid silk and corals. She h

ck. But Joy did not return the embrace, and gave her only one cold kiss. She h

and disagreeable. Thus the two girls misun

d to see you,

y. "The cars were so dusty, and your coach jolts terribly

ll, and her wel

tired child-like a very cross child, Gypsy thought. Joy's face was always pale and fretful; in th

. Gypsy looked up and their eyes me

it. After a while, when Mr. Breynton and his brother had gone away into the library for a talk by themselves, and Joy began to feel somewhat rested, she brightened up wonderfully, and became really quite en

e room, and how she watched the door for him to come back; how, when he did come, she stole away from her aunt and sat down by him, slipping her hand softly into his. As he had been

She was tired, and besides, she wanted to unpack a few of

ey opened the door, in by no means the happi

pretty?" said Gypsy, eagerly, thinking how pleased Joy

is th

the hot color rushi

and Brussels carpets, but I thought you'd like the maple-leaves,

on of Gypsy's face. Astonished and puzzled, wondering what she had done, Joy turned away to unpack, when her eye fell on the vase with

as only hal

Joy's linen was all of the prettiest pattern, with wonderful trimmings and embroideries such as Gypsy had seldom seen: her collars and undersleeves were of the latest fashion, and fluted with choice laces; her tiny slippers were tufted

bazine and crape. "Now I can't wear anything but this ugly black. Then there are all my corals and malachites just good for not

ked over to the window. She felt very much as if som

to see a quick picture of her own mother dying and dead, and hersel

me the two upper ones?" said Joy, presently, when

ngs were in the

ere in the lower o

drawers best," s

," retor

s face for the second time, but

are all those wardrobe shelves I had to take my things off

ugh. Gypsy knew it wasn't, but for t

fore this was forgotten. When they were all r

re I always sle

er the back side and I

can I," s

if I don't have the plac

as I can," said Gypsy.

red to be unanswerable,

her pillow, and talked in her dreams. Of course the front side and the upper drawers belonged to her-yes, o

any thoughts, and therei