make a confidant of some one, even though it was
Katy, the maid.

"You must not think for one moment I am jealous, Katy," she said, "for I
assure you I am not; only as host I should not like him to pay too much
courtesy to any one person, you know."

"Certainly not," assented Katy.

"I have asked Iris what she intends to wear, but for some reason she
does not tell me, so I want you to notice particularly what she has on,
and if she looks very pretty. But then, I think she is sure to look
nice."

"I shall look very closely, you may be sure of that," responded Katy,
"and tell you of everything that goes on--who's dancing, and who's
sitting in corners flirting, and just who Mr. Kendal dances with. Will
he take you in to supper, miss?" she asked, suddenly.

She was sorry the moment after that she had asked the question, for
Dorothy's poor, sightless eyes filled with great tears.

"You know that he would like to," she murmured, faintly, "but it would
be a ghastly sight--a poor blind girl sitting at the festal board with
the gay guests. Oh! why did God put such a terrible affliction upon me?"
throwing out her little white hands and beating the air as she sobbed
aloud in her agony. "Why can I not enter into his joys, and share them
with him as others do? Oh, Katy! will I not make but a sorry wife for my
handsome king--my idol? I wonder what he can find about me to hold me
still dear in his eyes, for I am no longer pretty, willful, madcap
Dorothy, as they once called me."

CHAPTER XVIII.

The night of the ball came at last--the night which had been looked
forward to so anxiously for weeks by many a maiden and brave swain.

By the time night had drawn her sable curtains over the sleeping earth
all the preparations had been completed at Gray Gables, and when the
lights were lighted it presented such a brilliant spectacle that those
who witnessed never forgot it.

The guests began to arrive early, in order to have a long evening of
enjoyment.

Late that afternoon an odd discussion had arisen which came near
wrecking the whole affair.

Mrs. Kemp, Iris, and Dorothy were all seated in the general sitting-room
discussing the last but by no means least important matter of who
should receive the guests.

"You are the young lady of the house," said Mrs. Kemp, turning to
Dorothy with a puzzled air, "and of course every one expects you to
perform that pleasant duty; but--"

"Oh, no, no!" cut in Dorothy. "My--my