atie dear, I
have torn all the flounce off my black and white dinner dress; you are
so much more clever with your needle than I am, would you sew it on for
me to-morrow?"

"No, I cannot, Ada--not to-morrow at least. I am busy altering mother's
winter cloak, and she has nothing warm to put on until it is finished. I
will show you how to arrange the flounce, and you will soon do it
yourself if you try."

"Very well"--rather sulkily. "I am sure I was intended to be a rich
man's wife, I am _so_ helpless."

"And I am sure I was born under 'a three-half-penny constellation,' as
L. E. L. said, for I rather like helping myself," returned Katherine,
laughing. "Only I should like to have a little exterior help besides."

"Do you know, Katherine, I am afraid you are very proud. I believe you
think yourself the cleverest girl in the world."

"I should be much happier if I did," said Katherine, good-humoredly.
"Don't be a goose, Ada; let my disposition alone. I am afraid it is too
decidedly formed to be altered."

"Colonel Ormonde was asking for you," resumed Mrs. Frederic, fearing she
had allowed her temper too much play. "He is quite an admirer of yours."

"I am much obliged to him. Would you like to come to the theatre
to-night? Mr. and Mrs. Wray have a box at the Adelphi, and have offered
us two places. My mother thought you might like to go."

"With the Wrays? No, thank you. I never seem to get on with them; and if
Colonel Ormonde happens to be there (and he might, for he is in town
to-day), I should not care to be seen with them; they are not at all in
society, you know."

"True," said Katherine, with perfect equanimity. "Then, dear mother, do
come. Nothing takes you out of yourself so much as a good play. I shall
enjoy it more if you are with us."

After a little discussion Mrs. Liddell agreed to go, and Mrs. Frederic
retired to unpack, and to see what repairs were necessary, in a somewhat
sulky mood.

The following morning Mrs. Liddell's head was aching so severely that
her daughter would not allow her to get up. She therefore gave her
sister-in-law an early luncheon, and saw her set forth on her visit to
Mr. Newton. She was a little nervous about it; she wished Katherine to
go with her, and yet she did not wish it.

She attired herself completely in black, and managed to give a mournful
"distressed widow" aspect to her toilette: the little woman was an
artist in her way, so long as her subject was self and it