them, and excused herself from participation. It was her own doing that
she stayed at home, yet, perversely, she felt neglected. She hardly knew
whether it was low spite or a heaven-born solicitude that made her feel
bitter regret at the degeneracy she began to think she saw in him.

In due time there came a pleasure party of which Trenholme was to be the
host. It was to take place in a lovely bit of wilderness ground by the
river side, at the hour of sunset and moonrise, in order that, if the
usual brilliancy attended these phenomena, the softest glories of light
might be part of the entertainment. Music was also promised. Principal
Trenholme came himself to solicit the attendance of the Miss Rexfords;
but Sophia, promising for Blue and Red, pleaded lack of time for
herself. "And I wish your scheme success," cried she, "but I need not
wish you pleasure since, as on all such occasions, you will 'sit
attentive to your own applause.'"

She felt a little vexed that he did not seem hurt by her quotation, but
only laughed. She did not know that, although the adulation he received
was sweet to him, it was only sweet that summer because he thought it
must enhance his value in her eyes. Some one tells of a lover who gained
his point by putting an extra lace on his servants' liveries; and the
savage sticks his cap with feathers: but these artifices do not always
succeed.




CHAPTER XIV.