Margaret Maliphant

								

Mother was just as much excited as we were, and we all fell to
discussing the fashions with just as much eagerness, if not as much
knowledge, as if we had been London born and bred.
"You must look over your clothes and see you have got everything neat.
Joyce, I suppose you will wear your white embroidered 'India'?" said
the mother. And from that it was a very natural step to go and look at
the white muslin, and at the other clothes that our simple wardrobes
boasted, so that we spent every bit of that morning that was not taken
up with urgent household duties in turning over frocks and laces and
ribbons, and determining what we should wear, and what wanted washing
before we did wear it. Yes, I think I thought of my dress that day
for the first time in my life. There was no need to think of Joyce's,
because she was sure to be admired, but if there was any chance of my
looking well it could only be because of some happy thought with regard
to my costume; and so when mother suggested that she should give me her
lovely old sea-green shot silk to be made up for the occasion, my heart
leaped for joy. I was very much excited. For Joyce, because I had quite
made up my mind that it was Captain Forrester who had persuaded the
squire to give this ball; and for myself, because it was really a great
event in the life of any girl, and I was passionately fond of dancing.
I spent the afternoon washing my old lace ruffles, and pulling them out
tenderly before the fire, and all the time I was humming waltz tunes,
and wondering who would dance with me, and picturing Joyce to myself
whirling round in the arms of Captain Forrester. I thought of Joyce and
her lover so much that it was scarcely a surprise to me when, just as
the light was beginning to fade and tea-time was near, I heard a sharp
ring at the front door, and running to the back passage window with my
lace in my hand, I saw that Squire Broderick was standing in the porch,
and with him his nephew Captain Forrester. I heard Joyce fly through
the hall to the kitchen. I think she must have seen the two gentlemen
pass down the road, and then she ran back again into the parlor, and
Deborah went to the door.
"Mrs. Maliphant at home?" said the squire's cheery voice; and scarcely
waiting for a reply, he strode through to the front room.
I threw down my lace, turned down my sleeves, and without any more
attention to my toilet I ran down-stairs. Mother had gone to do some
little errands in the village and had not come in; Joyce stood alone
with the visitors. She had her plain dark-blue every-day gown on, but
the soft little frills at her throat and wrists were clean. I remember
thinking how fortunate it was that they were clean. She was standing in
the window with Captain Forrester, who was admiring our view over the
marsh.
"It's a most beautiful country," said he. And his eyes wandered from
the plain without that the shades of evening were slowly darkening to