, lest it should interfere
with her going.

"You won't go, of course," Mrs. Worthington said, quietly. "You'll
resent her slighting Hugh."

"Indeed I shan't," the young lady retorted. "I hardly think it fair in
Ellen, but I shall accept, of course, and I must go to town to-day to
see about having my pink silk fixed. I think I'll have some black lace
festooned around the skirt. How I wish I could have a new one. Do you
suppose Hugh has any money?"

"None for new dresses or lace flounces, either," Mrs. Worthington
replied, "I fancy he begins to look old and worn with this perpetual
call for money from us. We must economize."

"Never mind, when I get Bob Harney I'll pay off old scores," 'Lina said,
laughingly, as she arose from the table, and went to look over her
wardrobe.

Meanwhile Hugh had returned, meeting in the kitchen with Lulu.

"Well, Lu, what is it? What's happened?" Hugh asked, as he saw she was
full of some important matter.

In an instant the impetuous Lulu told him of the party to which he was
not invited, together with the reason why, and the word she had sent
back.

"I'll give 'em a piece of my mind!" she said, as she saw Hugh change
color. "She may have old Harney. His man John told Claib how his a
master said he meant to get me and Rocket, too, some day; me for her
waiting maid, I reckon. You won't sell me, Master High, will you?" and
Lulu's soft black eyes looked pleadingly up to Hugh.

"Never!" and Hugh's riding whip came down upon the table with a force
which made Lulu start.

Satisfied that she was safe from Ellen Tiffton's whims, Lulu darted
away, singing as she went, while Hugh entered the sitting-room, where
'Lina sat, surrounded by her party finery, and prepared to do the
amiable to the utmost.

"That really is a handsome little boy upstairs," she said, as if she
supposed it were her mother who came in; then with an affected start she
added, "Oh, it's you! I thought 'twas mother. Don't you think, Ellen has
not invited you. Mean, isn't it?"

"Ellen can do as she likes," Hugh replied, adding, as he guessed the
meaning of all that finery, "you surely are not going?"

"Why not?" and 'Lina's black eyes flashed full upon him.

"I thought perhaps you would decline for my sake," he replied.

An angry retort trembled on 'Lina's lip, but she had an object to
attain, so she restrained herself and answered that "she had thought of
it, but such a course would do no good, and she wanted to