gifts Mellen displayed, and they certainly made a
very splendid climax to the costly exhibition.

As I said, the first fortnight passed off delightfully, then the
visitors departed, and there were a few days of quiet. The Mellens
renewed the gayeties then by giving a dinner-party to several families
in the neighborhood to whom they owed civility.

"They are stupid people to be sure," Elsie observed, "but then it's a
little change from our own special dullness, and we have been alone for
three days."

"You are such a foolish child!" returned Mellen.

"Oh, that's all very well," laughed Elsie; "but I don't wish to make a
female Robinson Crusoe of myself, I do assure you. Bessie, old Mrs.
Thompson will wear that wonderful new head-dress, and her son will ask
me to sing and be so scarlet and fluttered when I look at him. Yes, yes,
there is some fun to be got out of a dinner-party."

She mimicked the expected guests in turn, and did it so cleverly that
her companions were both obliged to laugh, so everybody prepared for the
infliction of a country dinner in the best possible spirits. It was
rather stupid to be sure, but Elsie so lighted up the room with her
radiance, and Elizabeth was so pleasant a hostess in her stately beauty,
that everything passed off tolerably, and even the most common-place of
the party brightened up a little under the influence of their hosts.

The ladies had risen from the table, giving the gentlemen an opportunity
to enjoy their cigars in comfort, and were passing through the hall
towards the drawing-room.

The moon shone broad and full through the windows of the hall, and
somebody remarked on the beauty of the night. Elsie darted away and
flung open the hall door.

"You will get cold; don't stand there," said Elizabeth.

Elsie danced out upon the portico in playful defiance of her sister, and
the other ladies went after her, expostulating with true feminine
eagerness.

As Elsie ran away to the other end of the veranda something fell upon
the stones with a ringing noise, followed by a little shriek which she
uttered in starting back.

"What is the matter?" called out several voices, but before they reached
her Elsie stooped, picked something up and ran towards them.

"I dropped my brooch," she said; "come in. Elizabeth was right. I am
chilled through and through."

She drove them playfully before her, and they all entered the parlors
laughing gayly--all but Elizabeth. It was a trifl