In the large parlor below stood several trunks and cases belonging to Mrs. Barlow , and left there for her convenience , as the room was unlet . Clara opened several of these , and rapidly turned over their contents , as if looking for something beside pale pink ribbon . Whatever it was she appeared to find it , for , dropping the last lid with a decided bang , she stood a moment looking about the large drawing-room with such brightening eyes it was evident that they saw some invisible beauty there ; then a smile broke over her face , and she ran up stairs to waken her mother from a brief doze , by crying joyfully , as she waved a curl of gay ribbon over her head , -- `` I 've got it , mamma , I 've got it ! '' `` Bless the child ! what have you got , -- a letter ? '' cried Mrs. Barlow , starting up . `` No ; but something better still , -- a new way to get a living . I 'll be a milliner , and you shall have as many caps as you like . Now do n't laugh , but listen ; for it is a splendid idea , and you shall have all the credit of it , because you suggested it . '' `` I 've materials enough , '' she continued , `` to begin with ; for when all else went , they left us our finery , you know , and now we can live on it instead of wearing it . Yes , I 'll make caps and sell them , and that will be both easier and pleasanter than to go out teaching and leave you here alone . '' `` But how can you sell them ? '' asked her mother , half bewildered by the eagerness with which the new plan was unfolded . `` That 's the best of all , and I only thought of it when I was among the boxes . Why not take the room below and lay out all our fine things temptingly , instead of selling them one by one as if we were ashamed of it ? `` As I stood there just now , I saw it all . Mrs. Smith would be glad to let the room , and I could take it for a month , just to try how my plan works ; and if it does go well , why can I not make a living as well as Madame ? '' `` But , child , what will people say ? '' `` That I 'm an honest girl , and lend me a hand , if they are friends worth having . '' Mrs. Barlow was not convinced , and declared she would hide herself if any one came ; but after much discussion consented to let the trial be made , though predicting utter failure , as she retired to her sofa to bewail the sad necessity for such a step .
XXXXX worked busily for several days to carry into execution her plan ; then she sent some notes to a dozen friends , modestly informing them that her `` opening '' would take place on a certain day .
Barlow Clara Smith doze finery girl left milliner month trunks