r.
Holding up both hands, says she:

"What, in that dress! My dear cousin, it is to a theatre we are going."

"Well, I reckon your letter told me that," says I, a-spreading out the
skirt of my dress along the floor.

"But we do not dress like that for a theatre," says she, a-looking down
at her black silk dress, which was all fluttered over with narrow
ruffles. "No trains, dear Cousin Frost, no lace--a plain walking-dress
and bonnet--nothing more?"

I looked at the shiny waves of pink silk lying around my feet, and at
that face in the glass, and was just ready to burst out a-crying. It was
too bad.

"You thought this just the thing when we went to hear that Miss Nilsson
sing," says I, looking mournfully at that face in the glass, which was
almost crying.

"Yes; but that was the opera--this only a theatre. You see the
difference," says she.

"No, I don't," says I.

"Well, you will," says she. "It's the fashion. You, who write about
fashionable life so beautifully, ought to know that."

"Just as if I didn't," says I; and the fire flashed into my eyes while I
took off my pink dress; and put on my alpaca, which has got a new
overskirt trimmed with flutings.

"There," says I, flinging the pink silk down on the bed, "will that
suit?"

"Beautifully," says she. "Now get your shawl and bonnet."

Which I did.

The carriage held four of us this time, for Cousin E. E. had brought
that little girl of hers, who sat huddled up in the back seat. When her
mother told her to change places, "The idea," says she, giving her head
a fling, and eying me like an angry poodle-dog; then she flounced down
in the front seat, so huffish and sulky, that her father said, in a
milk-and-waterish way:

"My darling, don't be naughty."

And his wife told him not to interfere between her and her child. She
knew how to bring up a young lady, and he mustn't attempt to break her
spirit; at which the heap of sulks in the corner muttered that it wasn't
in him to do it.

There isn't so very much difference between the Opera House and Mr.
Niblo's theatre; only, one is piled up sky-high with cushioned
galleries; and the theatre is considerably out-of-doors, especially in
the lower story. We sat right in front, for Cousin E. E. said that the
"Crook" could be seen best from there. I said nothing, but waited. Some
people love to ask questions, but I would rather find out things for
myself--it's a saving to one's feelings in the long run.

Wel