, 1898-11-18
By Marion KHUs.IE0

and diamonds"
She tried to remember what Miss Leigh
wore, but she had been too much excited
to notice. She retained only a vivid i'm
preston that the lady in question looked
beautiful and graceful.
She leased her maid, and perplexed her
self. 1t turned out after all that the
maids ideas were better than the mis-
tress'.
Indeed, my lady," said the waiting
woman, "of course your ladyship knows
best, but | think white satin and dia-
monds out of place at a small family din
ner; it is not as though there was a par
ty. I lived with Lady Hemyng, and
never was IN fun dress on such OCCASIONS.
Usually Violante, Lady Selwyn, profted
by Pauline's hints, out now she said bur-
riedly:
Lord Selwyn wishes it. You do not
understand"
So the polished shoulders and the beau
tiful neck were barred. The slender, girl
ish figure was robed in white satin that
might have done for a court dress; a suite
of magnificent diamonds completed a toilet
admirably suited for a state ball or a,
grand fete, but quite out of place at a.
small family dinner"
Violante was In blissful ignorance; she
looked at herself in the large mirror, and
thought with a smile of girlish pride IN
her own beauty, that she should surely
eclipse Miss Leigh.
She was somewhat startled on entering
the drawing room at the difference be-
tween herself and the two ladies waiting
there. She looked at Miss Leigh's dress.
1t was of rich, simple black lace, drawn
up around the white throat, and relieved
by a few "rich red rubies;" the beautiful
shoulders cleaned like marble through
the lace; it was twice as effective as any
low dress could ever be; and it suddenly
flashed across Lady Selwyn that in choos-
ing white satin and diamonds she had
made a great mistake.
The consciousness that she mac made
a mistake caused Violante to lose much of
the grace that was natural to her.
Evil they notice twill even the SER
wants laugh p she thought to herself.
Mrs. Selwyn looked in calm disapproyal
of the gorgeous toilet.
81 am afraid you will be. disappointed,
Lady Selwyn," she said. You evidently
expect visitors, and by Vivian's wish we
are quite alone"
The fair young face flushed so deeply
that Mrs. Selwyn could not pursue the
subject. She did not understand why,
but she saw that her daughter-in-law was
ill ut ease. Nor did Violante feel much
more comforted when Vivian entered the
room. and opened his eyes in wonder at
her dazzling sp1endoT, then glanced quick
ly at the quiet, graceful figure of Miss
Leigh.
There was a smile on the naughty, beau
tiful lips of that young lady, that made
the young wife, she scarce knew why,
uncomfortable.
DINNER is served" said the butler, and
then they went to the dining room, Lady
Violante detesting the r%ustling flow of her
rich white satin as she swept along.
The dining room was a superb apart
ment-large, lofty, brilliantly lighted; the
huge s%ideboards were one blaze of gold
and silver plate; the table was magnifi-
Gently set out; servants in livery were all
in attendance. The young girl, to whom
this was all new and strange, felt her
heart sink within her, and longed for the
familiar aspect of home.
There was a chair at the head of the
table and one at the foot. For a moment,
there was some little embarrassment, then
Mrs. Selwyn said:
Lady Violante, will you take your
placer"
1t was no wonder that, dazzled by the
unusual splendor, she shrank back, and
said timidly:
"Oh, no; pray not now. Indeed, I would
rather not"
Again that quiet smile on Miss Leigh's
face, and Vivian looked at his wife with
a slight expression of impatience.
"Pray be seated, Violante," he said; "of
course my mother would not dream of
taking your place."
Already nervous with the conviction
of the mistake she had made over her
dress; confused, and afraid she had erred
still more by her hesitation in accepting
her rightful place, the young girl sat
down, and the dinner began.
1t would have been kinder under the
circumstances to haye allowed her to
have her own way, and to have sat quiet
ly by, until the routine became familiar
to her. What should she know, poor
child. of French dishes, of rare wines, of
entrees? She, who had been accustomed
to the little dining parlor at home and the
attendance of one maid servant. She,
who had herself superintendent the cook
ing of the homely little dinners that pleas
ed her father best.
She grew awkward and confused. She
felt that she was not filling her place with
the dignity suited to n Lady Selwyn. Her
husband noticed it, and tried by kindly
words and kindly smiles to put her more
at her ease. Yet, when he saw Miss
Leigh's quiet eyes scrutinizing her, he felt
his own face grow warm, and he half
wished "Violante had been more formed"
There was another ordeal before her.
The ladies withdrew, and she dreaded the
prospect of an hours tete-a-tete with the
stately mother-in-law and the beautiful,
naughty lady, whose dark, bright eyes
seemed to read the secrets of all her little
fears.
She tried In her simple way to talk to
them. Mrs. Selwyn was not unkind-she
was too ladylike and well-bred to make
the young girl feel the difference between
them; but it was not quite in human ma
1890 - -aA ~ al af Aroo nm n Faction For