p for a sleeve, and all my
jewels."

"I shall be content with the jewels of the soul," says I, with an
austere rebuke in my voice; for if there is anything that riles me up
more than another, it is flashy dressing where one's mind should be
given up to solemn thoughts. "Cousin E. E., there are times when levity
of dress and lightness of speech are to be excused, but this isn't one
of them. Put a bridle on your tongue, and something more than a strap
over your shoulder."

E. E. colored up, and gave her head a toss.

"Phoemie," says she, "you are past finding out. Do as you please, and
just let me do as I please."

I lifted my forefinger in gentle warning; for, with all her fashionable
crotchets, E. E. is a good soul as ever lived, and I don't want to be
hard on her, feeling that great minds should be forbearing, especially
in religious matters. So we parted good friends, and I went into my room
to get ready for the solemn occasion.

I took out my pink silk dress--for the alpaca was a little rusty--and
laid it out on the bed. Then I ripped some black velvet ribbon from
another old dress, and tied it up into bows that looked scrumptious as
new. After that I brushed my hair out straight, and braided it in an
austere fashion appropriate to the occasion. Not a friz or a curl was to
be seen; for this once I threw aside the other woman's hair, and was
from head to foot myself again.

"Neat, yet genteel," says I to myself, when my dress was on and the
black bows in place. "Nothing flash or frivolous, though everything
refinedly elegant. No minister, be he ever so strict a disciplinarian,
can find fault with me. I suppose the critics of all the religious
papers will be there. Well, let them draw my portrait; I am ready for
the ordeal."

With these high thoughts in my mind I went downstairs; but the sight of
my cousin made me step back with both hands thrown up. She was just on
fire with jewelry and precious stones. They flamed out on her neck,
twinkled in her ears, and shot fiery arrows through her hair. Her cheeks
were rosy red, and her eyes had shadows about them that had come since
she went down to dinner. Perhaps she had taken a nap in a dark room,
though. The dress she wore was soft and white and floating, like a cloud
in the sky; and there was black lace mixed with it, and roses tangled up
with that. I declare to you, sisters, if that woman had been going to a
worldly party, she couldn't have been titivated off mor