We should sadly miss our
bright, blooming Nellie. Do you wonder we refuse to let you attend the
party?"
"But just once cannot hurt me," pleaded Nellie.
"The one party, my child, will be followed by a score of them. If you
go to Miss Shelburne's, the other girls will wonder why you cannot
attend theirs, and ill feeling will arise. We will talk no more about
it now. Sometime you will thank me for my course. Are you satisfied?"
"I'll try to be, mamma," said Nellie; but there were a few suspicious
drops on her eyelashes.
The night of the party arrived. Nellie had had a very trying week at
school, for the girls thought of nothing else besides their fine
preparations. She bore it bravely, and after tea sat resolutely down
to her lessons, which were unusually difficult. Half-past eight found
her closing her books with the air of a conqueror, while she
exclaimed,--
"Now, mamma, they're all done, every one. May I run over and see
Cousin Sue off?"
Consent was given, and Nellie entered her uncle's vestibule just as
Sue was descending the stairs, in a cloud of lace and pink silk. She
felt a little choking in her throat, but said, quietly, "Sue, you look
lovely; but to-morrow's French exercise is terribly hard.
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