perhaps be loved even as was the gentle Ella Hastings.

* * * * *




CHAPTER VIII.

THE PARTY.


One pleasant July morning, the people of Dunwood were electrified
by the news that on Thursday evening, Mrs. Howard Hastings would
be at home to between one and two hundred of her _friends_.
Among the first invited was Eugenia, who had been Mrs. Hastings's
chief adviser, kindly enlightening her as to the _somebodies_
and _nobodies_ of the town, and rendering herself so generally
useful, that, in a fit of gratitude, Mrs. Hastings had promised
her her brother Stephen, a fast young man, who was expected
to be present at the party. To appear well in his eyes was,
therefore, Eugenia's ambition; and the time which was not spent
in giving directions at Rose Hill, was occupied at home in
scolding, because her mother would not devise a way by which she
could obtain a new pink satin dress, with lace overskirt, and
flowers to match.

It was in vain that Mrs. Deane sought to convince her daughter how
impossible it was to raise the necessary funds. Eugenia was
determined; and at last, by dint of secretly selling a half-worn