CLEAR SKY. 
145 
looked very doubtful. Annie set resolutely 
about making the doll’s dress, and de¬ 
voted all her energies to furnishing a nice 
fit, as the dressmakers say; Richard’s car¬ 
penter-work began, under Daisy’s delighted 
eyes, to assume the appearance of a charm¬ 
ing little table, just right for the dining¬ 
room of the doll’s house; and Sidney, in the 
midst of Sir Stamford Raffles, had just 
come across the description of the Rafflesi 
Arnoldi, the gigantic flower of Sumatra, 
growing upon the stem of another tree, 
measuring more than a yard across and 
weighing fifteen pounds,—when a beam of 
bright sunshine glanced into the room. 
Sidney closed his book and went to the 
window. It was really clearing off. The 
clouds were breaking away in all direc¬ 
tions and rolling themselves into those 
round white masses sometimes known as 
cotton-balls, showing a bright-blue sky 
beyond them. It was already clear in the 
direction of the wind; and there now 
seemed every promise of a beautiful day. 
The promise was fulfilled. Aunt Louisa 
had the little basket all ready, and at two 
o’clock the carriage landed them safely at 
13 
