flowers for you,
if you wish."

"Will you, Gertrude?" said the disappointed and provoked Kitty. "Oh that
will be delightful. I should like it of all things! And, Isabel, you
cross old miser, you can keep all your wreaths to yourself!"

Gertrude prepared a head-dress for Kitty; and tastefully mingled the
choicest productions of the garden, that, when Isabel saw her cousin
look so beautiful with it, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy of Kitty
and dislike to Gertrude.

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE REJECTED.

Emily was not well this evening. It was often the case, lately, that
headache, weariness, or a nervous shrinking from noise and excitement
sent her to her own room or to her couch at an early hour. After Mrs.
Graham and her nieces had gone downstairs to await Mr. Graham's
pleasure, and Mrs. Bruce's arrival, Gertrude returned to Emily, and
found her suffering more than usual from her head. She was easily
induced to seek the only infallible cure--sleep; and Gertrude, seating
herself on the bedside, as she was frequently in the habit of doing,
bathed her temples until she fell into a quiet slumber. The noise of
Mrs. Bruce's carriage disturbed her a little; but she was soon in so
sound a sleep that, when Mr. and Mrs. Graham departed, the loud voice of
the latter did not startle her in the least. Gertrude sat some time
longer without changing her position, then, quietly rising, and
arranging everything for the night, according to Emily's wishes, she
closed the door, sought a book in her own room, and, entering the
parlour, seated herself at a table to enjoy the rare opportunity for
stillness and repose. But she soon left her seat, and going towards the
glass doors and leaning her head upon her hands, was absorbed in
meditation.

She had not long sat thus when she heard a footstep in the room, and,
turning, saw Mr. Bruce beside her. She started, and exclaimed, "Mr.
Bruce! is it possible? I thought you had gone to the wedding."

"No, there were greater attractions for me at home. Could you believe,
Miss Gertrude, I should find any pleasure in a party which did not
include yourself?"

"I certainly should not have the vanity to suppose the reverse?" replied
Gertrude.

"I wish you had a little more vanity, Miss Gertrude. Perhaps then you
would believe what I say."

"I am glad you have the candour to acknowledge, Mr. Bruce, that, without
that requisite, one would find it impossible to put faith in your fair
speeches."