f we was 'county people,' which I thought uncommon imperent.
Not but what he's a nice young man, miss, and very affable."

"Still constant, Sarah?" says Molly, who is deep in the waves of doubt,
not being able to decide some important final point about her dress.

"Oh, law! yes, miss, he is indeed. It was last night he was saying as
my accent was very sweet. Now there isn't one of them country bumpkins,
miss, as would know whether you had an accent or not. It's odd how
traveling do improve the mind."

"Sarah, you should pay no attention to those London young men,--(pin it
more to this side),--because they never mean anything."

"Law, Miss Molly, do you say so?" says her handmaid, suddenly
depressed. "Well, of course, miss, you--who are so much with London
gentlemen--ought to know. And don't they mean what they say to you,
Miss Molly?"

"I, eh?" says Molly, rather taken aback; and then she bursts out
laughing. "Sarah, only I know you to be trustworthy, I should certainly
think you sarcastic."

"What's that, miss?"

"Never mind,--something thoroughly odious. You abash me, Sarah. By all
means believe what each one tells you. It may be as honestly said to
you as to me. And now, how do I look, Sarah? Speak," says Molly,
sailing away from her up the room like a "white, white swan," and then
turning to confront her and give her a fair opportunity of judging of
her charms.

"Just lovely," says Sarah, with the most flattering sincerity of tone.
"There is no doubt, Miss Molly, but you look quite the lady."

"Do I really? Thank you, Sarah," says Molly, humbly.

"I agree with Sarah," says Cecil, who has entered unnoticed. She
affects blue, as a rule, and is now attired in palest azure, with a
faint-pink blossom in her hair, and another at her breast. "Sarah is a
person of much discrimination; you do look 'quite the lady.' You should
be grateful to me, Molly, when you remember I ordered your dress; it is
almost the prettiest I have ever seen, and with you in it the effect is
maddening."

"Let me get down-stairs, at all events, without having my head turned,"
says Molly, laughing. "Oh, Cecil, I feel so happy! To have a really
irreproachable ball-dress, and to go to a really large ball, has been
for years the dream of my life."

"I wonder, when the evening is over, how you will look on your dream?"
Cecil cannot help saying. "Come, we are late enough as it is. But first
turn round and let me see the train. So; that woman