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320 of arsenic-green gauze, which made her look as if she had the cholera.

"If she wanted to buy that horrid new 'gooseberry colored gown' as Tom calls it, I'd let her have it cheap," put in Maud, who was of a practical turn.

"Does she want it, Polly?" asked Fan, whose curiosity got the better of her pride.

"Well, she merely asked me if I thought you'd be mortally offended, if she offered to take it off your hands, as you'd never worn it. You don't like it, and another season it will be all out of fashion," said Polly, from her verdant retreat.

"What did you say?"

"I saw she meant it kindly, so I said I'd ask. Now between ourselves, Fan, the price of that dress would give you all you'll want for your spring fixings, that's one consideration; then here's another, which may have some weight with you," added Polly, slyly. "Trix told Belle she was going to ask you for the dress, as you wouldn't care to wear it now. That made Belle fire up, and say it was a mean thing to do without offering some return, for a costly thing like that; and then Belle said, in her blunt way, 'I'll give Fan all she paid for it, and more too, if it will be any help to her. I don't care for the dress, but I'd like to slip a little money into her pocket, for I know she needs it, and is too good to ask dear Mr. Shaw for anything she can get on without.'"

"Did she say that? I'll give her the dress, and not take a penny for it," cried Fan, flushing up with mingled anger toward Trix, and gratitude to Belle.

"That won't suit her; you let me manage it, and