by Mrs.
Pelby Smith.

Our heroine ought to have overheard the conversation which took place
at the late breakfast of Mrs. Goldsborough the following morning.

"You could hardly guess whom you have charmed into party intentions
toward you, Julia," said Mrs. Goldsborough; "I suppose you have not
heard? Mrs. Pelby Smith."

"Defend me from Mrs. Pelby Smith!" laughed Julia; "but are you in
earnest, mamma?"

"Certainly, my dear; she told me last night that she intended to give
you a party in the beginning of next week."

"That intolerable, toadying Mrs. Pelby Smith!" exclaimed young Frank
Goldsborough; "I would not allow her to cover the iniquities of her
ambition with my name, Julia, if I were you. Depend upon it, she has
some sinister design in this thing."

"I agree with Frank," rejoined Miss Pendleton, Mrs. Goldsborough's
sister; "such as elevating herself in society on your shoulders,
Julia, or rather those of your family."

"Charity, charity! you know I don't like such remarks," interposed
Mrs. Goldsborough, but with little show of severity; "we have no
reason to decide that Mrs. Smith does not really mean a kindness. She
always seemed very fond of Julia when a child."

"And so she would have appeared, mamma, of any other that might have
happened to be a grandchild of General Pendleton and Judge
Goldsborough. I had sense enough to understand her even then. She used
to call me in on my way to school, to warm my hands, when they did not
need it, and inquire after the health of my mother and grandmothers
and grandfathers and aunts and uncles, and admire my clothes, and wish
her little Jane was old enough to run to school with me, and flatter
me on the beauty of my hair and eyes and complexion, in such a way
that very few children would have been so stupid as not to have seen
through it. Could you not have said something to discourage the new
idea, ma'ma?"

"Not without rudeness, Julia, though, I confess, I would rather it
could have been done. Even presuming that she is sincere in her
professions of regard, I do not like the thought of a person in her
circumstances going to what to her must be serious trouble and expense
on our account. The easiest way to reconcile myself to it would be by
believing with you all, that she has some personal motive in it."

At that same hour Mrs. Smith was immersed in her preliminary
arrangements.

"I shall have to ask you to write some of the invitations, Cousin
Sabina," sai