"Now I'm going to tie John's cravat for him, and then to stay a few minutes with Father quietly in the study,"and Meg ran down to perform these little ceremonies,and then to follow her mother wherever she went,conscious that in spite of the smiles on the motherly face, there was a secret sorrow hid in the motherly heart at the flight of the first bird from the nest.
As the younger girls stand together, giving the last touches to their simple toilet, it may be a good time to tell of a few changes which three years have wrought in their appearance, for all are looking their best just now.
