She has been helping me with these garlands , and may have some left . Here is her address . '' Belle took the card with thanks , and hurried away with a last hope faintly stirring in her girlish heart , for Belle had an unusually ardent wish to look her best at this party , since Somebody was to be there , and Somebody considered forget-me-nots the sweetest flowers in the world . Mamma knew this , and the kiss Belle gave her when the dress came had a more tender meaning than gratified vanity or daughterly love . Up many stairs she climbed , and came at last to a little room , very poor but very neat , where , at the one window , sat a young girl , with crutches by her side and her lap full of flower-leaves and petals . She rose slowly as Belle came in , and then stood looking at her , with such a wistful expression in her shy , bright eyes , that Belle 's anxious face cleared involuntarily , and her voice lost its impatient tone . As she spoke , she glanced about the room , hoping to see some blue blossoms awaiting her . But none appeared ; and she was about to despond again , when the girl said , gently : `` I have none by me now , but I may be able to find you some . '' `` Thank you very much ; but I have been everywhere in vain . Still , if you do get any , please send them to me as soon as possible . Here is my card . '' Miss Berton glanced at it , then cast a quick look at the sweet , anxious face before her , and smiled so brightly that Belle smiled also , and asked , wonderingly : `` What is it ? What do you see ? '' `` I see the dear young lady who was so kind to me long ago . You do n't remember me , and never knew my name ; but I never have forgotten you all these years . I always hoped I could do something to show how grateful I was , and now I can , for you shall have your flowers if I sit up all night to make them . '' But Belle still shook her head and watched the smiling face before her with wondering eyes , till the girl added , with sudden color in her cheeks : `` Ah , you 've done so many kind things in your life , you do n't remember the little errand girl from Madame Tifany 's who stole a rose in your hall , and how you gave her rubber boots and cake and flowers , and were so good to her she could n't forget it if she lived to be a hundred . '' `` But you are so changed , '' began Belle , who did faintly recollect that little incident in her happy life . `` Yes , I had a fall and hurt myself so that I shall always be lame . '' And Lizzie went on to tell how Madame had dismissed her in a rage ; how she lay ill till Mrs. Brown sent her to the hospital ; and how for a year she had suffered much alone , in that great house of pain , before one of the kind visitors had befriended her .
While hearing the story of the five years , that had been so full of pleasure , ease and love for herself , Belle forgot her errand , and , sitting beside XXXXX , listened with pitying eyes to all she told of her endeavors to support herself by the delicate handiwork she loved .
Belle Brown Lizzie Tifany flower-leaves garlands left night year years