"Do see that dreadfully dowdy girl!" exclaimed Miss Eleanor, whose
attire was always selected with correct taste.

"She has never had any one to teach her to dress properly, my dear,"
suggested the mother.

"She might have some one who cared enough for her to keep her from
appearing in public in red hair and a blue ribbon," said the daughter.

"Such girls have no one to keep them from doing anything they like, my
dear. Let us try to be sorry for them, instead of being disgusted."

"But, mother--"

"Sh-h! she'll hear you. I'm going to bow to her; I wish you'd do the
same."

"Mother!"

"To oblige me; I'll explain afterwards."

The couple were now within several steps of Jane, who, with an odd
mixture of wistfulness and scare, had been studying Eleanor's attire.
When she saw both women looking at her, she began to take a defiant
attitude, but the toss of her head was met by one of Mrs. Prency's
heartiest smiles, accompanied by a similar recognition from Eleanor.
Short as was the time that could elapse before the couple had passed
her, it was long enough to show a change in Jane's face,--a change so
notable that Eleanor whispered,--