"Oh, yes, _of course_ she'll go, and be the best dressed and best
looking lady in the room too."

"If you have taken her up, I am sure she will be at least the
_second_ best as regards get up," responded Mr. Gibson, conveying
an indirect compliment to Miss Smith herself, who was celebrated for
the elegance of her attire. Cissie could not utter a word. After all,
she thought, there can be no harm in borrowing a dress from a young
lady! It was not for her to inquire how that lady was able to
purchase so many dresses; and then, as she looked at the handsome
young man before her, and thought how her rivals would bite their
lips with envy to see her in her elegant out-fit, the blood rushed
into her temples, and with an impetuous bound she burst away from
both her companions and entered the house, saying to Mr. Gibson:
"Yes, I'll go; call for me at nine to-morrow."

Till late night Cissie sat in her rocking-chair, her hands pressed
over her throbbing temples; at length wearied nature came to her
relief, and compelled her to retire to bed. Being fatigued, she soon
fell fast asleep, and on the morrow when she awoke, although she
remembered clearly all that had passed on the previous evening, she
had not the same sensitive feelings, or the same sharp prickings of
conscience, and, as she walked towards the office, she began to
anticipate the ball with the greatest pleasure.

As Miss Smith had said, Cissie, beautiful before, was ten times as
beautiful now that she was adorned with all that art could do in the
matters of dress and jewellery. Miss Williams fairly gnashed her
teeth with envy, and left the hall shortly after ten o'clock,
disgusted with _that thing_ from the telegraph office, while the