eve she's bewitched me, so that I'm not
capable of judging; but, if it isn't beauty, it's something more than
mere good looks."

About this time, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Bruce, with their families,
received cards for a _levee_ at the house of an acquaintance five miles
distant. Mrs. Bruce, who had a close carriage, invited both the cousins
to go; and, as Mr. Graham's carriage, when closed, would only
accommodate himself and lady, the proposal was acceded to.

The prospect of a gay assembly revived Isabel's drooping spirits. Her
rich evening dresses were brought out, and she stood before her mirror,
and tied on first one wreath, and then another, and looked so beautiful
in each that it was difficult to choose. Kitty, who stood by, went to
consult Gertrude.

"Gertrude," said Kitty, "what shall I wear this evening? I've been
trying to get Belle to tell me, but she never will hear what I ask her,
when she's thinking about her own dress! She's dreadfully selfish."

"Who advises _her_?" asked Gertrude.

"Oh, nobody; she always decides for herself; but then she has so much
taste, and I haven't the least in the world! So do tell me, Gertrude,
what had I better wear to-night?"

"I'm the last person you should ask, Kitty; I never went to a
fashionable party in my life."

"That doesn't make any difference. I'm sure if you did go, you'd look
better than any of us; and I'm not afraid to trust to your opinion, for
I never in my life saw you wear anything that didn't look genteel--even
your gingham morning-gown has a sort of stylish air."

"Stop, stop, Kitty; you are going too far; you must keep within bounds
if you want me to believe you."

"Well then," said Kitty, "to say nothing of yourself (for you're
superior to flattery, Gertrude--_somebody_ told me so)--who furnishes
Miss Emily's wardrobe? Who selects her dresses?"

"I have done so lately, but----"

"I thought so!--I thought so!" interrupted Kitty. "I knew poor Miss
Emily was indebted to you for always looking so nice and so beautiful."

"No, indeed, Kitty, you are mistaken; I have never seen Emily better
dressed than she was the first time I met her; and her beauty is not
borrowed from art--it is all her own."

"Oh, I know she is lovely, and everybody admires her; but no one can
suppose she would take pains to wear such pretty things, and put them on
so gracefully, just to please herself."

"It is not done merely to please herself; it was to please her father
th