en the rich and
the poor. Had I possessed a little more knowledge of the world I should
better have understood the matter, knowing as I did, that Mrs. Kingsley
had an unmarried daughter present, of uncertain age, with a fair
prospect of remaining for some time longer in her state of single
blessedness. I forbear describing Miss Kingsley, and will only say that
if Mrs. Kingsley thought me common-looking, I, on the contrary, thought
her daughter, Miss Kingsley, to be very uncommon-looking.

After the remarks to which I had been an unwilling listener, I derived
very little pleasure from the party. I mentally said, if my poverty is
to be made a subject of conversation in parties like this, I wish never
to attend another; and I was heartily glad when the gay assembly
departed, at two o'clock in the morning.

Thus ended my first party, which would have afforded me much enjoyment
had I not chanced to hear those annoying remarks from Mrs. Kingsley.

The party given by the Leightons was soon succeeded by others among
their numerous acquaintances. To several of those parties I was favored
with invitations, which I invariably declined, for I had decided to
attend no more fashionable parties. At length, when urged by the
Leightons to give my reasons for steadily refusing all invitations, I
informed them of the remarks I had overheard from Mrs. Kingsley on the
night of Laura's party. Never shall I forget the look of scorn and
contempt with which Willie Leighton listened as I related the
circumstance; but he made no remark, as he knew Mrs. Kingsley to be one
of his mother's most intimate friends. Mrs. Leighton remarked that Mrs.
Kingsley possessed many good qualities, although she was sometimes
inclined to make malicious remarks.

CHAPTER VII.

FAILING HEALTH OF CLARA'S MOTHER.

I soon had a far more serious cause for disquiet than the remarks of
Mrs. Kingsley or any one else could have occasioned. I had many times
during the past year feared that my mother's health was failing. She
looked thin and pale, and seemed to lack her usual activity in
performing her household duties. I frequently enquired if she were ill,
and she had ever replied that she was quite well; only it might be a
little fatigued. But the truth could no longer be concealed. My mother
was ill, and that seriously. She still attended to her daily
occupations, but she was greatly changed; she seemed during the past few
weeks to have grown thin almost to