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 ing the Bible verse simply because there is something in it that charms me. One couldn’t imagine a finer or simpler description of a gorgeously dressed woman. I don’t think Aunt Ruth recognised the quotation: she thought I was just trying to be smart.

“‘If you mean that she wears a purple silk petticoat, Em’ly, say so in plain English. Silk petticoats, indeed. If had anything to do with her I’d silk petticoat her.’

“‘Some day am going to wear silk petticoats,’ I said.

“‘Oh, indeed, miss. And may I ask what have got to get silk petticoats with?’

“‘I’ve got a ,’ I said, as proudly as the Murrayest of all Murrays could have said it.

“Aunt Ruth sniffed.

“I have filled my room with May-flowers and even Lord Byron looks as if there might be a chance of recovery.

“May 13, 19—

“I have made the plunge and sent my story to. I actually trembled as I dropped it into the box at the Shoppe. Oh, if it should be accepted!

“Perry has set the school laughing again. He said in class that France exported fashions. Ilse walked up to him when class came out and said, ‘You !’ She hasn’t spoken to him since.

“Evelyn continues to say sweet cutting things and laugh. I might forgive her the cutting things but never the laugh.

“May 15, 19—

“We had our Prep ‘Pow-wow’ last night. It always comes off in May. We had it in the Assembly room of the school and when we got there we found we couldn’t light the gas. We didn’t know what was the matter but suspected the Juniors. (Today we discovered they had cut off the gas in the basement and locked the basement