t.

Not long afterwards Petrea came to Louise, and besought her, with a
certain bashfulness, to lend her some ribbon.

"Good Petrea," said Louise, displeased, "I want my ribbons myself, and
you have had money just as well as I or any of the others, to buy what
you may want."

Petrea was silent, and tears were in her eyes.

"I did not think, Louise," said Sara, hotly, "that you would have been
so covetous as to refuse Petrea some old ribbons which you are certain
not to want yourself."

"And I, Sara," returned Louise in the same tone, "I could not have
believed that you would have so abused Petrea's good-nature and weakness
towards you as to take from her her little share, just to indulge your
own vanity! It appears to me especially blameworthy, as it has led to
expenses which far exceed the means of our parents."

"Sara did not desire anything from me," said Petrea, with warmth; "I
insisted upon it; I compelled her."

"And above all, Sara," continued Louise, with stern seriousness, "I must
tell you that the dress you have chosen appears to me neither modest nor
becoming. I am quite persuaded that Schwartz has induced you to deviate
from our first project; and I must tell you, dear Sara, that were I in
your place I would not allow such a person to have such an influence
with me; nor is this the only instance in which your behaviour to him
has not appeared to me what it ought to be, not such as becomes the
dignity of a woman, or what I should wish in a sister _of mine_. I am
very sorry to say this."

"Oh, you are quite too good!" returned Sara, throwing back her head, and
with a scornful smile; "but don't trouble yourself, Louise, for I assure
you that it gives me very little concern what pleases you or what does
not."

"So much the worse for you, Sara," said Louise, "that you concern
yourself so little for those who are your true friends. I, besides, am
not the only one whom your behaviour to Schwartz displeases. Eva----"

"Yes, Sara," interrupted Eva, blushing, "I think too that you do not
conduct yourself towards him as is becoming, for----"

"Sisters," said Sara, with warmth and pride, "you cannot judge of what
is seemly for me. You have no right to censure my conduct, and I will
not endure----"

"I think, too," said Petrea, warmly, "that if our mother has said
nothing, nobody else has any right----"

"Silence, dear Petrea," said Louise; "you are silly and blind to----"

At this moment of disunion an