ul it was! She had not learned for her
soul's comfort that the wise man's counsel is very profound when he
instructs, "Look not upon the wine when it is red"! Even in the
daylight tiny brilliants flashed out from their setting in foamy lace
about the neck. Well Winifred knew what a radiant picture would stand
within her mirror-frame when the dress should be donned, and eyes
bright with excited anticipation should rival the glow of diamonds. If
she went, she should wear the slender gold necklace with its single
pendant of diamonds which her father had given her. But she was not
going--and for what an intangible reason!

Hubert had returned from his ride, and Winifred met him in the upper
hall and confided to him her perplexity.

"I feel as though there were two of me instead of one," she said. "One
of us would like to go to Mrs. Butterworth's party."

"And the other one?" asked Hubert.

"Decided last Sunday not to go," she answered.

"Which one do you think is on the Lord's side?" he queried.

"The one that says not to go," she replied, without hesitation.

"I should stand by that one if I were you," he advised.

"I will," she said, and slipped her hand in his as they went down the
stairs.

At the breakfast table the dreaded discussion was precipitated. Mrs.
Gray addressed her daughter.

"Winifred, dear," she said, "have you looked at your new white dress to
see if it requires anything to be done before Mrs. Butterworth's party?
Did we not think the girdle should be altered slightly?"

"I was looking at it this morning, mother," faltered Winifred, and
Hubert shot a sympathetic glance across the table.

"Will it need altering, do you think?"

"N--no," she hesitated, "I think it is all right." Then she girded the
loins of her intention and added: "But I think, mother, if you do not
mind, I should prefer not to go to Mrs. Butterworth's party."

"Why, Winifred!" exclaimed her mother in surprise. "What can you be
thinking of? The invitations were accepted long ago. You are not ill,
certainly?"

"Oh, no!" said Winifred. "But I think I can excuse myself to Mrs.
Butterworth so that she will not be offended. My chief regret will be
if it disappoints you, mother."

"But what can be your reasons?" said Mrs. Gray. "They must be very
good if you would decline the invitation at this late day. It will be
very rude unless you are positively hindered."

"I know it," said Winifred humbly. "But the reas