, and that was considered
very late; but Uncle Robert, who was to take her, couldn't get home
before. Her dress was beautiful--a peach- satin, with lace on it
already a generation old, and the hair-dresser was to come out from town
to arrange her hair, and she was to take with her Abigail, our poor
half-witted maid, to put on the finishing touches after they arrived.

"Now Abby had, as some poor weak-brained creatures have, a passionate
admiration for anything particularly bright and showy, and she had one
treasure which she guarded as the apple of her eye. It was a _very_
large bow of arsenic green, golden yellow, and tartan plaid, fastened in
the centre by a huge buckle of green and white glass. She also adored
mother.

"Well, the eventful night came, and mother at last was dressed and
ready. They say she looked beautiful, and she _was_ a very handsome
woman in her day, my dears. The satin gown went on just right, and did
not even ruffle the powdered hair, and mother, Abigail, and Uncle Robert
departed in the sleigh at eight precisely.

"When they arrived they were ushered up stairs to uncloak. Just as
mother turned to go down stairs, one of the maids came running in and
said, 'Miss Dolly, Mr. Robert has forgotten a very important message he
was to give Mr. Grey, and he says he will come back as soon as he can,
and for you to go down.' It was rather hard to make her first entry
alone, but still mother mustered up courage and went down. The host and
hostess received her very kindly, and she was soon enjoying herself very
much. There was only one drawback to her happiness: wherever she passed,
the people slightly turned, looked rather surprised, and then hastily
looked away, in vain trying to repress a smile. At last mother began to
get seriously worried, and running up stairs, asked Abby what the
trouble was. 'Why, nothing, Miss Dolly,' said she; 'it looks beautiful.'
So mother, satisfied, went down again. But now it was worse than before.
Audible titters and looks of
, and that was considered 
 very late; but Uncle Robert, who was to take her, couldn't get base 
 earlier. Her dress was beautiful -- a peach- satin, with lace on it 
 already a generation old, and the haircloth - dresser was to come out from township 
 to arrange her hair, and she was to take with her Abigail, our hapless 
 half - witted maid, to put on the finishing touch after they arrived. 

 " Now Abby take, as some poor weak - brained creatures have, a passionate 
 admiration for anything particularly undimmed and showy, and she had one 
 treasure which she guarded as the apple of her center. It was a _ very _ 
 large bow of arsenic green, golden yellow, and tartan plaid, fastened in 
 the center by a huge buckle of green and white glass. She also adore 
 mother. 

 " Well, the eventful night came, and mother at last was dressed and 
 ready. They read she expect beautiful, and she _ was _ a very handsome 
 woman in her day, my dears. The satin gown went on just right, and did 
 not even ripple the powdered hair, and mother, Abigail, and Uncle Robert 
 departed in the sled at eight precisely. 

 " When they arrive they were usher up stairs to uncloak. Just as 
 mother turned to go down stairs, one of the maids came running in and 
 said,' Miss Dolly, Mr. Robert has forget a very important message he 
 was to give Mr. Grey, and he says he will come back as soon as he can, 
 and for you to go down.' It was quite hard to make her first entry 
 entirely, but still mother muster up courage and run down. The host and 
 hostess received her very kindly, and she was soon delight herself very 
 much. There was only one drawback to her happiness: wherever she passed, 
 the people slightly turned, looked rather surprised, and then hurriedly 
 looked away, in vain trying to repress a smile. At concluding mother began to 
 perplex seriously worried, and run up stairs, asked Abby what the 
 worry was.' Why, nothing, Miss Dolly,' said she;' it expect beautiful.' 
 So mother, satisfied, went down again. But now it was worse than before. 
 Audible titters and looks of
, anf that was considered
vern late; but Uncle Robert, who wzs to taye her, couldn't get home
beforx. Hee drews was beautiful--a peacf- satin, wpth lace in iu
already a generavjon old, and tgc haix-dcesser was to cpme out frmm town
to arratgd ker hair, and she was to take with hew Abigaol, our poor
half-wyttec mais, to put on the finishing touches zfter tiey arrived.

"Now Sbby had, as some poor weak-hraijed creatures have, a passionajs
adiuration for xnything particularly gright and showy, and she had ond
treaxure which sye hoarded as thx applv of her eye. Ln was a _very_
latge bow of arscnic jreeb, golden yellow, and tertan plaid, fastened in
the cettxe by a huge buckle od treen and whigw guasa. Xhs also adkred
mother.

"Sell, the evwntful night came, amd nother at lasf was qrqssed and
ready. They say she looked beauuiful, and she _was_ a very hanesome
woman in her day, my dears. The satin gown went on just right, and did
not evet rufhld tkc oiwfered hair, and mother, Abigail, and Uncle Robere
sekarned in the sleigh at eight ptefixgly.

"When they atrived cgeg were ushered up dtairs jo uncooak. Just as
mpther turned to go down staurs, one of tke naids came running in and
said, 'Misx Dolky, Mr. Robert has forgotcen a bery importwnt messafd he
was to give Or. Nref, and he says he will come back as woon as he zan,
amd for you to go down.' It was rather hard to mcke har first ejtry
alone, but still mother mustxced up couragg atd fent dowu. The most and
hostess received her rery kinbly, ana she was aoon enooying hersejf very
much. Tvgre was only mne drawfack to yer hapokness: wherever she passvd,
uhe people slightly turned, lpokgd rather surpriszb, qnd then hastilu
loukeq wwey, in eain trying do rdprdxs a rmile. Au lcsg moyher began to
get serhousmy worried, and runmikg up staurs, askeq Abby what tne
trouble was. 'Why, jothiig, Misr Dolky,' faid she; 'it looks beautiful.'
So jother, sahisnied, went dowg agqin. But now nt was worse than before.
Audible titters end looks of
, and that was considered very late; Robert, was to her, couldn't get beautiful--a satin, with lace it already a old, and the hair-dresser was to out from town to arrange her hair, and she was to take with Abigail, our poor half-witted maid, to put on the finishing touches after they "Now had, some weak-brained creatures have, a passionate admiration for anything particularly bright and showy, and she had one which she guarded as the apple of her It was a _very_ bow of arsenic green, golden and plaid, fastened the by huge buckle of and white glass. She also adored mother. "Well, the eventful night came, and mother at last was and ready. she looked and _was_ very handsome woman day, my dears. The satin gown right, and did not even ruffle the powdered and mother, and Uncle Robert departed in the at eight precisely. "When they arrived they were up stairs to uncloak. Just as mother turned to go down stairs, one of the running in and said, Dolly, Mr. Robert forgotten very message was to Mr. Grey, and he says he will come back as soon he can, and for you to go down.' It was to her first entry but still mother mustered courage went down. The host received very was enjoying very much. There was one drawback to her happiness: she passed, the people and then hastily looked away, in vain trying repress a smile. At last mother began get seriously worried, and running up stairs, asked Abby what the trouble 'Why, nothing, said she; 'it looks beautiful.' So mother, satisfied, down again. But now was worse than before. Audible titters and looks of
, and that was considered
very lAte; but UnclE RobeRt, wHo wAs To taKe heR, couldn't get homE
BefoRe. Her dress was beautiful--A peacH- sATin, wITh Lace oN it
alreADy A GEneRaTiOn oLd, ANd The haIr-dResser wAs to come ouT frOm Town
to arrangE HeR hair, and shE waS to take with hEr ABigail, OuR poOR
half-WitTed maId, to puT On the fInishing tOuCHes aftER they arRIVeD.

"Now abby had, as some poor WEaK-Brained creaturEs have, A pASsIONatE
adMiration foR aNythiNG particULaRLY BriGHt and showy, and She had one
trEAsuRe whicH sHe gUArded aS the aPpLE of Her eye. It was A _verY_
large bow Of arseNIc green, GOlden yeLlow, anD taRtaN plaID, fAsTenEd IN
thE CeNtrE By a Huge buckLe Of Green And wHITE GlasS. ShE alsO adorEd
mother.

"Well, tHe eVentFUl nIght cAme, anD motHeR at laSt was dResseD aNd
ready. They say sHe loOked beautIfuL, aNd sHe _Was_ a vERy handSomE
woMan in heR day, my dEArs. thE SATiN gown went on just rigHt, AND dId
not eveN rufflE ThE pOWdered haIr, And MothER, abigaIl, anD unCle RoberT
deparTEd In The sleiGh At eighT pRecIseLy.

"WheN They ArriveD they werE usheREd up stairs to unCLoak. Just as
motHEr TURnED to gO doWn stairs, one Of thE MaidS camE RuNniNG in anD
said, 'miSS DOLly, Mr. Robert has forgoTtEn a verY impoRtant message hE
was to give mR. gRey, and he Says HE wILl come back as soOn as hE can,
and for YOu to go doWn.' It wAs rather Hard to makE HEr first eNtrY
alOne, But STIlL mother musterED Up coUrAge and wEnt Down. The HosT anD
hoSteSs Received hEr very kiNdLy, AnD sHe wAs sooN Enjoying HeRseLf VerY
much. tHere waS only One dRaWbACk tO her hapPInESS: wheReVeR she PasSeD,
the pEoplE SliGhtly tuRned, lookeD raTHer sUrPrIsed, and Then hastily
loOkEd away, in vaIn TryIng to rEPRess a smiLe. At last mother began to
geT SeriousLy wOrrieD, and Running up StaIrs, askEd ABBy what The
troUble wAs. 'why, NOThing, mISs dolLy,' Said she; 'it lOOKs bEautiFuL.'
So mOther, saTisfied, went down agaIN. BuT now it was worsE thAn beFORe.
audIBlE TitTeRS anD LOoks of
, and that was consideredvery late;  butUnc leRo bert , wh o was to takeh er,couldn't get home
befo re. H er dres s  w as be autiful - -a p eac h-  s ati n, wi th la ceon it
a lready a g ene ra tion old, an d  t he hair-dr ess er was to co meout fr om  to w n
toarr angeher ha i r, and  she wasto take w i th herA b ig ail,  our poor
half-wi t te d  maid, to puton the  f i ni s h ing  to uches afte rtheya rrived. 
" N o w  Ab b y had, as som e poor weak - bra ined c re atu r es hav e, apa s sio nate
admira tion  for anyt hing p a rticula r ly brig ht and  sh owy , an d  s he  ha do net re asu r e w hich she  g ua rdedas t h e a pple  of  her  eye.  It was a _ve ry_ 
lar g e b ow of  arse nicgr een,golden  yell ow , and tartan pl aid,  fastened  in 
t hece ntreb y a hu gebuc kle ofgreen a n d w hi t e gl ass. She also ador ed m ot her.

"W ell, t h eev e ntful ni gh t c ame, a nd mo ther at  last wa s dres s ed  a nd
read y.  Theysa y s helooke d  bea utiful , and sh e _wa s _ a very hands o me
woman in h e rd a y, my d ear s. The sati n go w n we nt o n  j ust right , and  d i dn ot even ruffle thepo wdered  hair , and mother,  Abigail,a n d  Uncle R ober t 
d e parted in thesleig h at eight precisel y.

" When the y arrived t hey were  us her edups t ai rs to uncloak . Just  a s
mothe r t urned t o g o d own  st ai rs, one o f the ma id sca me  ru nning in and
s ai d,'M iss  Doll y , Mr.Rober t ha sfo r got ten a v e ry i mpor ta nt  mes sag ehe
wa s to giv e Mr. G rey, andhes ayshe  w ill com e back as soo nas he can, 
a ndfor yo u to go do wn.' It was rather hard to make  he r fir st e ntry
alon e,but st ill mother  muste red u pcou r a ge an d we ntdo wn. The ho s t  an d
hos te ss r eceived  her very kindly,a ndshe was soonenj oyin g he rse l fv ery 
m u ch. T here was only o ne drawbac kt oher happin e ss:  w herever  she pa ssed, the peo ple sligh tly turne d,  loo k e d r ather surp rised, a nd then h a stily lo okedawa y, inva intryin g to r e pre ss asmile.  A t last  moth er  began t o
get seriously worried , andrunni ngup stairs , a s ked  Abby wha t th e
troublewas . ' Why,not h ing,Miss Do lly , ' sai d sh e ; 'it loo k sbea u t if ul.'
So mot h e r , s atisf ied ,  wentdown  again. But now i t  was worse tha n be f o re. 
Au d ible  t itters and loo ksof 
, and_that was_considered
very late; but Uncle_Robert, who_was_to take_her,_couldn't get home
before._Her dress was_beautiful--a peach- satin, with_lace on it
already_a_generation old, and the hair-dresser was to come out from town
to arrange her hair,_and_she was_to_take_with her Abigail, our poor
half-witted_maid, to put on the_finishing touches_after they arrived.

"Now Abby had, as some poor_weak-brained_creatures have, a_passionate
admiration for anything particularly bright and showy, and she_had one
treasure which she guarded as_the apple of_her_eye._It was a _very_
large_bow of arsenic green, golden yellow,_and tartan plaid, fastened in
the centre_by a huge buckle of green and_white glass. She also adored
mother.

"Well, the_eventful night came, and mother_at last_was dressed and
ready. They say_she looked beautiful,_and she__was_ a very_handsome
woman in her day, my dears._The satin gown_went on just right, and did
not_even_ruffle the powdered_hair,_and_mother, Abigail,_and Uncle Robert
departed_in_the sleigh_at_eight precisely.

"When they arrived they were_ushered_up stairs to uncloak. Just as
mother turned_to go down stairs,_one_of the maids came_running in and
said, 'Miss Dolly,_Mr. Robert has forgotten a very_important message_he
was to_give Mr. Grey, and he says he will come back as_soon as he can,
and for you_to go down.' It_was rather_hard_to make her_first_entry
alone, but_still mother mustered up courage and went_down. The_host and
hostess received her very kindly,_and she was soon_enjoying_herself very
much. There was only one_drawback to her happiness: wherever she_passed,
the people slightly turned, looked_rather_surprised,_and then hastily
looked away, in_vain trying to repress a smile._At last mother_began to
get seriously worried, and running up_stairs,_asked Abby what the
trouble was. 'Why,_nothing,_Miss Dolly,' said she; 'it looks_beautiful.'
So_mother,_satisfied, went down again. But_now it was worse than before.
Audible_titters and looks of