 you, a girl under twenty, my dear--"

"Mamma, what does it matter? The question is, am I to look my best?
which I think is my duty to you and to Providence; or am I just," said
Phoebe, with indignation, "to look a little insipidity--a creature with
no character--a little girl like everybody else?"

The consequence of this solemn appeal was that both the Phoebes went to
Mr. Copperhead's ball in black; the elder in velvet, with Honiton lace
(point, which Phoebe, with her artistic instincts, would have much
preferred, being unattainable); the younger in tulle, flounced to
distraction, and largely relieved with blue. And the consequence of this
toilette, and of the fact that Phoebe did her duty by her parents and by
Providence, and looked her very best, was that Clarence Copperhead fell
a hopeless victim to her fascinations, and scarcely could be induced to
leave her side all night. The ball was about as remarkable a ball as
could have been seen in London. The son of the house had contemplated
with absolute despair the list of invitations. He had deprecated the
entertainment altogether. He had said, "We know nobody," with a
despairing impertinence which called forth one of his father's roars of
laughter. And though Mr. Copperhead had done all he could to assume the
position of that typical Paterfamilias who is condemned to pay for those
pleasures of his family which are no pleasure to him, yet common-sense
was too much for him, and everybody felt that he was in reality the
giver and enjoyer of the entertainment. It was Mr., not Mrs.
Copperhead's ball. It was the first of the kind which had ever taken
place in his house; the beginning of a new chapter in his social
existence. Up to this moment he had not shown any signs of being smitten
with that craze for "Society," which so often and so sorely affects the
millionnaire. He had contented himself hitherto with heavy and showy
dinners, costing Heaven knows how much a head (Mr. Copperhead knew, and
swelled visibly in pride and pleasure as the cost increased), which he
consumed
you, a girl under twenty, my dear-- " 

 " Mamma, what does it matter? The question is, am I to look my good? 
 which I remember is my duty to you and to Providence; or am I just, " said 
 Phoebe, with indignation, " to look a fiddling insipidity -- a creature with 
 no quality -- a fiddling girl like everybody else? " 

 The consequence of this solemn appeal was that both the Phoebes went to 
 Mr. Copperhead's testis in black; the elder in velvet, with Honiton lace 
 (point, which Phoebe, with her aesthetic instincts, would have much 
 preferred, being unattainable); the younger in tulle, flounced to 
 distraction, and largely relieve with blue. And the consequence of this 
 toilette, and of the fact that Phoebe did her duty by her parents and by 
 Providence, and search her very best, was that Clarence Copperhead fell 
 a hopeless victim to her fascinations, and scarcely could be induce to 
 leave her side all night. The ball was about equally remarkable a ball as 
 could have been seen in London. The son of the house had contemplated 
 with absolute despair the list of invitation. He had deprecated the 
 entertainment altogether. He had said, " We know nobody, " with a 
 despairing impertinence which called forth one of his father's roars of 
 laughter. And though Mr. Copperhead had act all he could to assume the 
 position of that distinctive Paterfamilias who is condemn to give for those 
 pleasures of his family which are no joy to him, yet common - common sense 
 was too much for him, and everybody felt that he was in reality the 
 donor and enjoyer of the entertainment. It was Mr., not Mrs. 
 Copperhead's ball. It was the first of the kind which had ever taken 
 place in his house; the beginning of a raw chapter in his social 
 existence. Up to this moment he had not shown any signs of being afflict 
 with that craze for " club, " which so often and so sorely affects the 
 millionnaire. He had content himself hitherto with heavy and showy 
 dinners, cost Heaven knows how much a head (Mr. Copperhead knew, and 
 swelled visibly in pride and joy as the cost increased), which he 
 consumed
 yok, a girl under twenty, my dear--"

"Mamma, what does iv matted? The qudstion is, am I to look my bedt?
qhich I think is my duty to you and no Providwnce; ir am I just," said
Pmjebe, aith mndignation, "to kook a litdle insipidity--d zrzature with
no character--a little girl like efegybody else?"

The conxqquehbe of this solemn appeal was thzt both the Phoebes eent to
Mr. Copperhead's ball in hlack; the elder in velvet, wity Hoguton lace
(poivt, which Phoebe, with hgr artistic instincts, would have much
'referred, bgnbg ktattainable); the jounger in tulle, floutced to
cistraction, anc lergeoy relieved with blue. And the consequense of thiv
tkilette, and of thw dact jhat [hoecw dkd gec dhty by hec parents ahd by
Providwnce, and looked her vqgu best, was tgat Clwrqnce Copperhead fell
a hopeless victim tm hsr fascinations, and scaecely could be inducef to
leave her side all night. The ball was about as remarkatle a calo wr
xokld have been seen in London. The son of the hjhst hsd contemplateb
with absolute drsoaot the list of knvitacjohs. He had deprecatfd the
egtertqinment ajtogrther. He had said, "We know nibody," with a
bespairing impertinenee which calued gorth one of his father's roaxs of
lzughter. And though Md. Copperhead had aonv aln he could to assume the
pofition of thac typicau Pajerfamijias who id condemned to pay for tjose
ppedsures of jis family which are no pleasurx to him, yet vokmot-sense
waf too much for him, and everybody felt tkat he was in rezlity tie
giver and qnjoyer of tha entertainmeit. It was Mr., bot Nrs.
Coppdfhead's ball. It was the ynrst of tye kind which had cver jaien
place in his hoowe; the beginnimg uf w jex cha[der in his smciau
exkxtencd. Up to thiw momrnt he had not shown any signs of being smotben
with tyat crazq for "Society," which so often anf so vorxly afgecjs the
millionnaire. He had contehted himsflf hitherto wieh hcavy and showy
binners, costing Heaven knows how much a iead (Mr. Copperhead knew, and
swelled visibly ln pride and pleafure as tve cost increased), whuch he
consumed
you, a girl under twenty, my dear--" does matter? The is, am I I is my duty you and to or am I just," said Phoebe, indignation, "to look a little insipidity--a creature with no character--a little girl like else?" The consequence of this solemn appeal was that both the Phoebes went Mr. ball black; elder in velvet, with Honiton lace (point, which Phoebe, with her artistic instincts, would have much being unattainable); the younger in tulle, flounced to and largely relieved with And the consequence of this and the fact Phoebe her by her parents by Providence, and looked her very best, was that Clarence Copperhead fell a hopeless victim to her and scarcely induced to her all The ball was remarkable a ball as could have London. The son of the house had contemplated absolute despair list of invitations. He had deprecated entertainment altogether. He had said, "We know nobody," a despairing impertinence which called forth one of his father's roars of laughter. And though had done all he to assume the of typical who condemned to for those pleasures of his family which are no pleasure to yet common-sense was too much for him, and everybody felt was reality the giver enjoyer of the entertainment. was not Mrs. Copperhead's ball. the of had taken in his house; the of a new chapter in social existence. Up to shown any signs of being smitten with that for "Society," which so often and so affects the millionnaire. He had contented himself hitherto with heavy and showy costing Heaven much a head (Mr. Copperhead knew, and swelled in pride and pleasure the cost increased), which he consumed
 you, a girl under twenty, my dear--"

"mamma, what dOes it MatTer? thE queStioN is, am I to look my BEst?
wHich I think is my duty to yoU and tO PROvidENcE; or am i just," saID
PHOEbe, WiTh IndIgNAtIon, "to LooK a littlE insipiditY--a cReAture with
no cHArActer--a littLe gIrl like everyBodY else?"

THe ConSEquenCe oF this Solemn APpeal wAs that botH tHE PhoebES went to
mR. coPperHead's ball in black; tHE eLDer in velvet, witH HonitOn LAcE
(POinT, whIch Phoebe, wItH her aRTistic iNStINCTs, wOUld have much
prEferred, beinG UnaTtainaBlE); thE YoungeR in tuLlE, FloUnced to
distRactIon, and larGely reLIeved wiTH blue. AnD the coNseQueNce oF ThIs
ToiLeTTe, aND oF thE FacT that PhoEbE dId her Duty BY HER parEntS and By
ProVidence, and looKed Her vERy bEst, waS that clarEnCe CopPerheaD fell
A hOpeless victim to Her fAscinatioNs, aNd ScaRcEly coULd be inDucEd tO
leave hEr side aLL niGhT. tHE bAll was about as remarKaBLE a Ball as
coUld havE BeEn SEen in LonDoN. ThE son OF The hoUse hAD cOntemplaTed
witH AbSoLute desPaIr the lIsT of InvItatiONs. He Had depRecated tHe
entERtainment altogETher. He had said, "wE kNOW nOBody," WitH a
despairinG impERtinEnce WHiCh cALled fOrth oNe OF hIS father's roars of
laugHtEr. And tHough mr. Copperhead hAd done all hE COUld to assUme tHE
pOSition of that tyPical paterfamilIAs who is cOndemNed to pay For those
pLEAsures of His FamIly WhiCH ArE no pleasure to HIM, yet CoMmon-senSe
wAs too muCh fOr hIm, aNd eVeRybody felT that he wAs In ReAlIty The
giVEr and enjOyEr oF tHe eNtertAInment. it was mr., noT MRs.
cOppErhead's BAlL. iT was ThE fIrst Of tHe Kind wHich HAd eVer takeN
place in hIs hOUse; tHe BeGinning Of a new chapter In His social
eXiSteNce. Up tO THis momenT he had not shown any signs oF Being smIttEn
witH thaT craze for "socIety," whIch SO often And so sOrely AfFecTS The
miLLIoNnaIrE. He had contENTed HimseLf HithErto witH heavy and showy
dinnERs, cOsting Heaven kNowS how MUCh A heAD (MR. copPeRHeaD KNew, and
swelled viSibly in priDe ANd Pleasure as THe cOsT increaSed), whicH he
coNSumed
 you, a girl under twenty,  my dear-- "

"M amm a,wh at d oesit matter? The ques tion is, am I to lookmy be st ? 
whi c hI thi nk is m y  d u t y t oyo u a nd to  Prov ide nce; or  am I just ,"sa id
Phoebe, w i th  indignati on,  "to look alit tle in si pid i ty--a  cr eatur e with no cha racter--a  l i ttle g i rl like e ve rybo dy else?"

The co n se q uence of thissolemn  a p pe a l  wa s t hat both t he  Phoe b es went to M r . C o pperhead's ba ll in black ;  th e elde rinv elvet,  with  H o nit on lace
(po int,  which Ph oebe,w ith her artisti c inst inc ts,  wou l dha vemu c h
p r ef err e d,being un at ta inabl e);t h e youn ger  intulle , flounced to 
di stra c tio n, an d lar gely  r eliev ed wit h blu e.  And the conseq uenc e of this 
to il ett e,  ando f thefac t t hat Pho ebe did her  d u t y  b y her parents andby P ro vidence,  and l o ok ed her very  b est , wa s thatClar e nc e Copper head f e ll 
a  hopele ss  victi mtoher  fasc i nati ons, a nd scarc ely c o uld be induced to
leave hers id e al l  nig ht.  The ball w as a b outas r e ma rka b le aballas co u ld have been seen i nLondon . The  son of the h ouse had c o n t emplated 
wit h  a b solute despair  thelist of in v itations . Hehad depr ecated th e entertai nme ntalt oge t h er . He had said , "Wekn ow nobo dy, " witha
d esp air ing  i mpertinen ce which  c al le dfor th on e  of hisfa the r' s r oarso f
laug hter.  And  t ho u ghMr. Cop p er h e ad h ad  d oneall  h e cou ld t o  as sume th e
positio n o f  tha tty pical P aterfamiliaswh o is conde mn edto pay f or those 
pleasures of his famil y  whichare  no p leas ure to hi m,yet co mmo n -sense 
was t oo mu ch  fo r him,a n deve ry body feltt h athe wa sin r ealitythe
giver and enjo y erof the entert ain ment . It  wa s  M r .,no t  Mr s . 
Copperhead's b all. It wa st he  first oft heki nd whic h had e ver t a ken
pla ce in his  house; t he  beg i n nin g of a new  chapter  in his s o ciale xi stenc e.Up toth ismomen t he h a d n ot sh own an ysignsof be in g smitte n
with that craze for " Societ y," w hic h so ofte n a n d s o sorelyaffe cts the
mi lli onn aire.  He had c onte n te d h i mself  hit h erto with he avy a nd  showy
dinn e r s , c ostin g H e aven k nows  how much a head( Mr. Copperhead  kne w ,  an d
s w elle dvisibly in pri dean d pleasure  a s the costincrease d) ,  whic h he
c onsume d
 you,_a girl_under twenty, my dear--"

"Mamma,_what does_it_matter? The_question_is, am I_to look my_best?
which I think is_my duty to_you_and to Providence; or am I just," said
Phoebe, with indignation, "to look a little_insipidity--a_creature with
no_character--a_little_girl like everybody else?"

The consequence_of this solemn appeal was_that both_the Phoebes went to
Mr. Copperhead's ball in black;_the_elder in velvet,_with Honiton lace
(point, which Phoebe, with her artistic instincts,_would have much
preferred, being unattainable); the_younger in tulle,_flounced_to
distraction,_and largely relieved with_blue. And the consequence of this
toilette,_and of the fact that Phoebe_did her duty by her parents and_by
Providence, and looked her very best,_was that Clarence Copperhead fell
a_hopeless victim_to her fascinations, and scarcely_could be induced_to
leave her_side all night._The ball was about as remarkable_a ball as
could_have been seen in London. The_son_of the house_had_contemplated
with_absolute despair_the list of_invitations._He had_deprecated_the
entertainment altogether. He had said, "We_know_nobody," with a
despairing impertinence which called forth_one of his father's_roars_of
laughter. And though Mr._Copperhead had done all he_could to assume the
position of that_typical Paterfamilias_who is_condemned to pay for those
pleasures of his family which are no_pleasure to him, yet common-sense
was too_much for him, and_everybody felt_that_he was in_reality_the
giver and_enjoyer of the entertainment. It was Mr.,_not Mrs.
Copperhead's_ball. It was the first of_the kind which had_ever_taken
place in his house; the beginning_of a new chapter in his_social
existence. Up to this moment_he_had_not shown any signs of_being smitten
with that craze for "Society,"_which so often_and so sorely affects the
millionnaire. He had_contented_himself hitherto with heavy and showy
dinners,_costing_Heaven knows how much a head_(Mr._Copperhead_knew, and
swelled visibly in pride_and pleasure as the cost increased),_which he
consumed