gallery, and a huge chimney filled with blazing oaken logs, and it is brilliant with waxen tapers twinkling on every side."
"My eye, Miss Sara!" gasped Becky again.
Then the door opened, and Ermengarde came in, rather staggering under the weight of her hamper. She started back with an exclamation of joy. To enter from the chill darkness outside, and find one's self confronted by a totally unanticipated festal board, draped with red, adorned with white napery, and wreathed with flowers, was to feel that the preparations were brilliant indeed.
"Oh, Sara! " she cried out. "You are the cleverest girl I ever saw!"
"Is n't it nice?" said Sara. "They are things out of my old trunk. I asked my Magic, and it told me to go and look."
"But oh, miss," cried Becky, "wait till she 's told you what they are! They ain't just—oh, miss, please tell her," appealing to Sara.
So Sara told her, and because her Magic helped her she made her almost see it all: the golden platters—the vaulted spaces—the blazing logs—the twinkling waxen tapers. As the things were taken out of the hamper—the frosted cakes—the fruits—the bonbons and the wine—the feast became a splendid thing.
"It 's like a real party!" cried Ermengarde.
"It 's like a queen's table," sighed Becky.
Then Ermengarde had a sudden brilliant thought.
"I 'll tell you what, Sara," she said. "Pretend you are a princess now and this is a royal feast."
