Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-10
CHAPTER XIX

Lady Athelston had sent her maid to beg Miss Chester's attendance in her room as soon as she was dressed that night; and Fletcher stood at Lina's door, looking frigidly in upon the girl, as she delivered her message.
 Margaret had been assisting Miss Chester; but Margaret had gone away now, and Lima was sitting alone at the fire, writing with just as much ease as if she had not been dressed for one of the state balls of High Athelston. "And not lookingat all like 1t, either" thought Fletcher. "She's not much used to company, that's certain-as why should she be?-and what my lady wants with her down stairs at all, can't think"
 Yes, I am ready; I will come in few minutes. You need not wat, said Lima, looking up from her desk, and speaking with that gentle dignity which belonged to her, and which so often baffied Sir Neil Athelston.
 "Dear mel" muttered Fletcher, as she retraced her steps along the brill iantly-lghted corridors, "to think that such as she can put on airs and graces to me, and yet that don't return it to her in so many direct words! I did hear her beg my lady to let her stay in her own room tonight, and I can't think why on earth she shouldn't. It doesn't seem to me very proper for the compan- ion to be just like the guests it never is in any other family that know. Why, dear mel I might just as well dress up and go myself; though as for dressing up, concluded Fletcher, with haugh- ty sniff, cit isn't much she's done to herself, after all, and it isn't very nice that she'll look among ladies-among ladies who know where faces, and flow CTS, and jewels ought to be worn."
 Lima, all unconscious of this free and unhattering criticism, followed the maid to Lady Athelston's dressing-room, and stood, little shyly and little doubt fully, beside the chair where her lady ship sat patiently undergoing Fletcher's thick, light hair in which there was no trace of the silver either of age or thought.
 "Well" she questioned, looking up into her companions face with 0 smile, "have you reconciled yourself to the prospect of the crowd-or, rather, have you come to your senses
 "I still wish-I still wish with all my heart that you would not bid me join your guests, my lady," said the girl with wisttul earnestness in her voice.
 "You' silly child l" Lady Athelston answered, speaking almost tenderly, as it seemed Cat times) most natural to do 10 the lonely, unselfish, gentle girl, whose influence over her was true and wise, and whose own noble qualities could not but rouse the dormant good of other natures, where the good might be dormant, and the soil but shallow. laughing. "Sir Neil and Miss Castl- lain will want to hear you Eat my old harp again, and I shall want you to talk it all over with me tomorrow. I can- not let you of, and I am sure you will enjoy it; girls always do enjoy a gay scene such as this will be ; though, of course, you will not dance, unless for some special reason. You could not dnnoe, you know, my dear, even if any one were polite enough to ask you, while any of the lady guests sat"
 "And do not care to dance," said Lima, in cold, quiet tones.
 "Well, now," remarked Lady Athel- Bton, not, of course, having heard that reply, "come around here; want to see you, now that you are dressed. What nonsense is this 2" she added, sharply, as Lima went up to the fire. ball, do youP don't like anything so dowdy as that. Why do you wear high dressP Turn around again."
 Liua turned, shy smile on her lips, and Lady Athelston scrutinized her keenly through her glittering eyeglass. But though for the moment vexed in her surprise, the dspleasure could not rest in Lady Athelston's eyes as they took in the surpassing beauty of the girl at whom she gazed.
 Over long. untrimmed dress of white