me;
and then, if he ever knows it, he will not be as much displeased when
he finds that you, too, are guilty."

After a time, Lizzie was persuaded, but her happiness for that day was
destroyed, and when at tea-time her father asked if she felt quite
well, she could scarcely keep from bursting into tears. Lucy, however,
came to her relief, and said she was feeling blue because Harry would
not be present! Just before the hour for the party Lucy descended to
the parlor, where her father was reading, in order, as she said, to
let him see whether her dress were fussy enough to suit him. He
approved her taste, and after asking if Lizzie, too, were dressed in
the same manner, resumed his paper. Ere long the covered sleigh stood
at the door, and in a few moments Lucy and Lizzie were in Anna
Graham's dressing-room, undergoing the process of a second toilet.

Nothing could be more beautiful than was Lucy Dayton, after party
dress, bracelets, curls, and flowers had all been adjusted. She
probably thought so, too, for a smile of satisfaction curled her lip
as she saw the radiant vision reflected by the mirror. Her bright eye
flashed, and her heart swelled with pride as she thought, "Yes,
there's no help for it, I shall win him sure;" then turning to Anna
Graham, she asked, "Is that Mr. St. Leon to be here to-night?"

"Yes, you know he is," answered Anna, "and I pity him, for I see you
are all equipped for an attack; but," continued she, glancing at
Lizzie, "were not little Lizzie's heart so hedged up by brother Hal, I
should say your chance was small."

Lucy looked at her sister, and a chill struck her heart as she
observed a spasm of pain which for an instant contracted Lizzie's
fair, sweet face. Anna noticed it, too, and springing toward her,
said, "What is it, Lizzie? are you ill?"

"No," answered Lizzie, laying her hand on her side; "nothing but a
sharp pain. It will soon be better;" but while she spoke her teeth
almost chattered with the cold.

Oh, Lizzie, Lizzie!

For a short time, now, we will leave the young ladies in Miss Graham's
dressing-room, and transport our readers to another part of the
village.

CHAPTER III.

ADA HARCOURT.

In a small and neat, but scantily furnished chamber, a poor widow was
preparing her only child, Ada, for the party. The plain, white muslin
dress of two years old had been washed and ironed so carefully that
Ada said it looked just as well as new; but then everything looked