or eight years yet, any of them," interposed Mr. Smith.

"Sooner or later," continued the lady; "and how is that to be done
unless I keep the footing which I have attained--with trouble enough,
as I only know, and without any thanks to you, Mr. Smith. If I give up
parties, I may fall at once into the obscurity for which you have such
a taste. People of fortune and distinction can voluntarily withdraw
for a while, and then reappear with as much success as ever, but that
is not the case with persons of our position."

"It is only the expense that I object to, my dear; my business is so
limited that it is impossible for us to live in any other than a
plain, quiet way. The cost of a party would be a serious inconvenience
to me."

"The advantages will be of greater consequence than the sacrifices,"
returned the lady, softening as she saw her husband yielding; "the
loss will soon be made up to you through an increase of friends.
Party-giving people are always popular."

Mr. Smith saw that his wife was determined to carry her point, which
was nothing new. He had learned to submit, and to submit in silence,
so, after sitting moodily for a few minutes, he took up his hat to go
to his place of business.

"I knew, my dear," said Mrs. Smith smoothly, "that you would soon see
the matter in a proper light; and now about Mrs. Goldsborough's party.
I shall lay out your things for you. I can go with some satisfaction
now that I have a prospect of soon being on equal terms with my
entertainers."

Mrs. Smith walked round her two small and by no means elegant rooms,
reassuring herself as to the capabilities of her lamps, girandoles and
candlesticks, for she had mentally gone through all her arrangements
long before; the act of consulting her husband being, generally, her
last step toward the undertaking of any important project. She was
joined by the object of some of her recent remarks, Miss Sabina
Incledon, a cousin of Mr. Smith's, who, until within a few days, had
been a stranger to her. She was a plainly dressed person of middle
age, with an agreeable though not striking countenance, and
unobtrusive, lady-like manners.

"I am sorry you are not going to Mrs. Goldsborough's to-night, Cousin
Sabina," said Mrs. Smith; "I have no doubt she would have sent an
invitation had she known I had a friend visiting me."

"Not improbable. I do not, however, feel much inclination just now to
go to a party. Had it not been for that, I should