Dayton was highly indignant at the trick which she plainly saw
had been put upon Berintha, but Lucy only replied, "that she wished it
were as easy a matter to get rid of grandma!"

On Monday cards of invitation to the number of one hundred and fifty
were issued, and when Lizzie, in looking them over, asked why Ada
Harcourt was left out, Lucy replied, that "she guessed she wasn't
going to insult her guests by inviting a sewing girl with them. Anna
Graham could do so, but nobody was going to imitate her."

"Invite her, then, for my sake, and in my name," pleaded Lizzie, but
Lucy only replied:

"I shall do no such thing;" and thus the matter was settled.

Amid the hurry and preparation for the party, days glided rapidly
away, and Thursday morning came, bright, beautiful, and balmy, almost,
as an autumnal day.

"Isn't this delightful!" said Lucy, as she stepped out upon the
piazza, and felt the warm southern breeze upon her cheek. "It's a
wonder, though," she continued, "that Madam Nature didn't conjure up
an awful storm for my benefit, as she usually does!"

Before night she had occasion to change her mind concerning the day.

Dinner was over, and she in Lizzie's room was combing out her long
curls, and trying the effect of wearing them entirely behind her ears.
Suddenly there was the sound of sleigh bells, which came nearer, until
they stopped before the door. Lucy flew to the window, and in tones of
intense anger and surprise, exclaimed, "Now, heaven defend us! here is
Cousin John's old lumber sleigh and rackabone horse, with Berintha and
a hair trunk, a red trunk, two bandboxes, a carpet-bag, a box full of
herbs, and a pillowcase full of stockings. What does it all mean?"

She soon found out what it all meant, for Berintha entered the room in
high spirits. Kissing Lizzie, she next advanced toward Lucy, saying,
"You didn't expect me, I know; but this morning was so warm and
thawing that John said he knew the sleighing would all be gone by
Saturday, so I concluded to come to-day."

Lucy was too angry to reply, and rushing from the room, she closed the
door after her, with a force which fairly made the windows rattle.
Berintha looked inquiringly at Lizzie, who felt inadequate to an
explanation; so Berintha knew nothing of the matter until she
descended to the kitchen, and there learned the whole. Now, if Lucy
had treated her cousin politely and good-naturedly, she would have
saved herself much annoyance, but on t