waiting, and his master ready. He
managed to get to his room, however, unperceived, where we will leave
him to dress and recover himself at his leisure.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE RIVALS.

We will now return to Miss Gwynne, who pursued her usual avocations
until about five o'clock, and then began to wonder what detained
Gladys. However, as she was quite independent of maids in her toilette,
she went to her room and began to dress herself at the usual hour. She
found all her attire already spread upon the bed, as if Gladys
anticipated being late; nothing was wanting, and she had nothing to do
but to dress.

As it happened, however, she was particularly anxious to look her best
that evening; why, she would not even ask herself; but she, who was
usually careless of what she wore, provided she were properly attired,
began to fidget over wreaths and ornaments as if she were going to her
first ball.

'Miss Nugent will be all jewels,' she said, taking up a set of pearls
that was on the dressing-table. 'At any rate, I will not be like her.
And, of course, she will wear white, so I shall change my mind and won't
wear white. Where is Gladys? The only evening I ever really wanted her,
she is out of the way.'

Miss Gwynne rang her bell violently, and the housemaid answered it.

'Send Gladys. Surely she is come back.'

'No, ma'am. I can't think where she is. I went a little way to look for
her, but she is not in sight. Can I do anything, ma'am?'

'No, thank you; but send Gladys as soon as she comes. Provoking,'
continued Miss Gwynne, turning out two or three shelves of a large
wardrobe. 'Where are the trimmings of that blue dress? He said I looked
best in blue, and so, I think, I do. That wreath of blue forget-me-nots
and lilies of the valley, where in the world is it? But forget-me-nots
are so ridiculously sentimental; and the turquoise ornaments? I suppose
I must wear the bracelets and locket. Oh! here they are; and here are
the flowers and trimmings in a box, in the neatest possible order.'

Miss Gwynne began to arrange her hair.

'I declare I have forgotten how to do anything since Gladys has been
with me. I cannot put up this braid neatly. I must wait, and it is
nearly six o'clock, and dinner at half-past. What does it matter how I
look? I daresay Miss Nugent will look twenty times as well, and her
mother will dress her up to perfection. But he _cannot_ care for such a
girl as that. It is impossible; and he