The old one was a minx,--do you hear,
dragons?" The dragons heard, but were too polite to say anything; and as
for not ramping, why they had ramped and glared for fifty years, and had
no idea of making a change at their time of life.
The gilt cherubs round the little mirror were more amiable, and smiled
cheerfully at Hilda as she brushed and braided her hair, and put on the
pretty blue gingham frock. "We have no clothes ourselves," they seemed
to say, "but we appreciate good ones when we see them!" Indeed, the
frock fitted to perfection. "And after all," said the new Hilda as she
twirled round in front of the glass, "what _is_ the use of an
overskirt?" after which astounding utterance, this young person
proceeded to do something still more singular. After a moment's
hesitation she drew out one of the white aprons which she had scornfully
laid in the very lowest drawer only twelve hours before, tied it round
her slender waist, and then, with an entirely satisfied little nod at
the mirror, she tripped lightly downstairs and into the kitchen. Dame
Hartley was washing dishes at the farther end of the room, in her neat
little cedar dish-tub, with her neat little mop; and she nearly dropped
the blue and white platter from her hands when she heard Hilda's
cheerful "Good morning, Nurse Lucy!" and, turning, saw the girl smiling
like a vision of morning.
"My dear," she cried, "sure I thought you were fast asleep still. I was
going up to wake you as soon as I had done my dishes.
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