at Emily first made the exertion to dress with taste as well as
neatness. I have heard that, for some time after she lost her eyesight,
she was disposed to be very careless; but, having accidentally
discovered that it was an additional cause of sorrow to him, she roused
herself at once, and, with Mrs. Ellis's assistance, contrived always
afterwards to please him in that particular. But you observe, Kitty, she
never wears anything showy or conspicuous."

"No, indeed, that is what I like; but, Gertrude, hasn't she always been
blind?"

"No; until she was sixteen she had beautiful eyes, and could see as well
as you can."

"What happened to her? How did she lose them?"

"I don't know."

"Didn't you ever ask?"

"No."

"Why not?--how queer!"

"I heard that she didn't like to speak of it."

"But she would have told you; she worships you."

"If she had wished me to know, she would have told without my asking."

Kitty stared at Gertrude, wondering much at such unusual delicacy and
consideration, and instinctively admiring a forbearance of which she was
conscious she should herself have been incapable.

"But your dress!" said Gertrude, smiling at Kitty's abstraction.

"Oh, yes! I had almost forgotten what I came here for," said Kitty.
"What shall it be, then--thick or thin; pink, blue, or white?"

"What has Isabel decided upon?"

"Blue--a rich blue silk; that is her favourite colour, always; but it
doesn't become me."

"No, I should think not," said Gertrude; "but come, Kitty, we will go to
your room and see the dresses, and I will give my opinion."

Kitty's wardrobe having been inspected, a delicate white crape was fixed
upon. And now her head-dresses did not prove satisfactory. "I cannot
wear any of them," said Kitty; "they look so mean by the side of
Isabel's; but oh!" exclaimed she, glancing at a box which lay on the
dressing-table, "these are just what I should like! Oh, Isabel, where
did you get these beautiful carnations?" and she took up some flowers
which were, indeed, a rare imitation of nature, and, displaying them to
Gertrude, added that they were just what she wanted.

"Oh, Kitty," said Isabel, angrily, "don't touch my flowers! you will
spoil them!" and snatching them from her, she replaced them in the box,
and deposited them in the bureau, and locked them up--an action which
Gertrude witnessed with astonishment, mingled with indignation.

"Kitty," said she, "I will arrange a wreath of natural