arry them, for I want
no flowers from Mr. Ross."

"But perhaps Mr. Ross will not be pleased if you give your flowers away,"
said Gussie, holding her own bouquet daintily to her nose.

"I fancy that his pleasure or displeasure will not affect me," and an angry
gleam brightened her eyes. "I merely accepted them as a peace-offering
which binds me for this night only. If the flowers help to make someone
else entrancing, they will fulfil their mission as well as if I carried
them."

"Well, if we are all ready let us go down and show ourselves to our private
families before we try to charm the eyes and ears of the public," said
Cora. "Your parents are in the parlor, Dexie; go and make your best bow,
before you put on your wraps; Gussie, do likewise," and Cora gave a
sweeping look over their figures. "Why, Dexie!" she added, "are you not
going to wear any jewelry after all?" and she pointed to the case she had
opened for Dexie's selection.

"Please, if you don't mind, I would rather not. I feel dressed enough."

"So you are, Dexie," Lancy exclaimed, coming to the door at this moment.
"Flashing jewels could not improve you, for you look stunning already. But
the horses are waiting in the cold, while you girls are admiring
yourselves."

With that they ran down the stairs, all except Dexie, who turned to the
dressing-table in search of a pin, and as they left the room Lancy came
hastily towards her.

"Oh! is it you, Lancy? I have saved some flowers for you. Shall I pin them
on?"

As she did so, Lancy slipped his arm around her, and his admiring eyes
confirmed the words that fell from his lips. "You are beautiful to-night,
Dexie. You need not fear any audience with those brilliant eyes and cherry
lips. You will win all hearts, as you have mine."

Dexie lifted her eyes in surprise, and saw a lover's face very near her
own, and before she could retreat he had pressed her to his heart, and
kissed her on both cheeks.

"For shame! look!" and she pointed to a mirror where their images were
reflected. "What would your mother say to such rudeness, sir?"

"I think she would say, 'Dexie, give Lancy one kiss for his trouble this
afternoon.' Don't you think I deserve one, my Dexie?"

But Dexie flew past him and downstairs to the parlor, where her parents and
Aunt Jennie were awaiting her.

"How do you like my looks, mamma? Am I not pretty, for once?" she asked.

"If you had behaved as well as you look I would see no cause for