Page:Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Volume 2.djvu/88

70 "I shall never give up my pictures, nor my boots!" cried Matilda, gathering her idols to her breast in a promiscuous heap.

"Be calm and listen," returned the scintillator. "Pack away all but the merest necessaries, and we will send the trunk by express to Lyons. Then with our travelling-bags and bundles, we can follow at our leisure."

Tis well! 'tis well!" replied the chorus, and they all returned to their packing, which was performed in the most characteristic manner.

Amanda never seemed to have any clothes, yet was always well and appropriately dressed; so it did not take her long to lay a few garments, a book or two, a box of Roman-coin lockets, scarabæ brooches, and cinque-cento rings, likewise a swell hat and habit, into her vast trunk; then lock and label it in the most business-like and thorough manner. Matilda found much difficulty in reconciling paint-pots and silk gowns, blue, hats and statuary, French boots and Yankee notions. But order was at length produced from chaos, and the young lady refreshed her weary soul by painting large red M's all over the trunk to mark it for her own.