, but she could not avoid a lurking conviction that, beside Flora and
Meta, it had a scanty, schoolgirl effect. "And," she continued quaintly,
"besides, I have really got a new gown on purpose--a good useful silk,
that papa chose at Whitford--just the colour of a copper tea-kettle,
where it turns purple."

"Ethel! you will kill me!" said Meta, sinking back on the sofa.

"And I suppose," continued Flora, "that you have sent it to
Miss Broad's, without any directions, and she will trim it with
flame-coloured gimp, and glass buttons; and, unless Margaret catches
you, you will find yourself ready to set the Thames on fire. No, my dear
tea-kettle, I take you to Oxford on my own terms, and you had better
submit, without a fuss, and be thankful it is no worse. George wanted me
to buy you a white brocade, with a perfect flower-garden on it, that you
could have examined with a microscope. I was obliged to let him buy that
lace mantle, to make up to him. Now then, Meta, the scene opens, and
discovers--"

Meta opened the folding-doors into Flora's bedroom, and thence came
forward Bellairs and a little brisk Frenchwoman, whom Flora had acquired
at Paris. The former, who was quite used to adorning Miss Ethel against
her will, looked as amused as her mistresses; and, before Ethel knew
what was going on, her muslin was stripped off her back, and that
instrument of torture, a half made body, was being tried upon her. She
made one of her most wonderful grimaces of despair, and stood still. The
dresses were not so bad after all; they were more tasteful than costly,
and neither in material nor ornament were otherwise than suitable to the
occasion and the wearer. It was very kind and thoughtful of Flora--that
she could not but feel--nothing had been forgotten, but when Ethel saw
the mantles, the ribbons, the collars, the bonnet, all glistening with
the French air of freshness and grace, she began to feel doubts and
hesitations, whether she ought to let her sister go to such an expense
on her account, and privately resolved that the accepting thanks should
not be spoken till she should have consulted her father.

In the meantime, she could only endure, be laughed at by her elders, and
entertained by Mary's extreme pleasure in her array. Good Mary--it
was more than any comedy to her; she had not one moment's thought
of herself, till, when Flora dived into her box, produced a pair of
bracelets, and fastened them on her comfortable plump ar