“’Lena’s card!  What do you mean?” said Mrs. Livingstone, looking up from the book she was reading, while Carrie for a moment suspended her needle-work.

“’Lena’s invitation; you know well enough what I mean,” returned John Jr., tumbling over the notes which lay upon the table, and failing to find the one for which he was seeking.

“You’ll have to ask Mrs. Graham for it, I presume, as it’s not here,” was Mrs. Livingstone’s quiet answer.

“Thunder!” roared John Jr., “’Lena not invited!  That’s a smart caper.  But there’s some mistake about it, I know.  Who brought them?”

“Nero brought them,” said Carrie, “and I think it is strange that grandmother should be invited and ’Lena left out.  But I suppose Mrs. Graham has her reasons.  She don’t seem to fancy ’Lena much.”

“Mrs. Graham go to grass,” muttered John Jr., leaving the room and slamming the door after him with great violence.

’Twas a pity he did not look in one of the drawers of his mother’s work-box, for there, safe and sound, lay the missing note!  But he did not think of that.  He only knew that ’Lena was slighted, and for the next two hours he raved and fretted, sometimes declaring he would not go, and again wishing Mrs. Graham in a temperature but little suited to her round, fat proportions.

“Wall, if they feel too big to invite ’Leny, they needn’t expect to see me there, that’s just all there is about it,” said grandma, settling herself in her rocking-chair, and telling ’Lena “she wouldn’t care an atom if she’s in her place.”

But ’Lena did care.  No one likes to be slighted, and she was not an exception to the general rule.  Owing to her aunt’s skillful management she had never yet attended a large party, and it was but natural that she should now wish to go.  But it could not be, and she was obliged to content herself with the hopes of a minute description from Anna; Carrie she would not trust, for she well knew that whatever she told would be greatly exaggerated.

Mrs. Graham undoubtedly wished to give her friends ample time to prepare, for her invitations were issued nearly a week in advance.  This suited Carrie, who had a longer time to decide upon what would be becoming, and when at last a decision was made, she could do nothing but talk about her dress, which really was beautiful, consisting of a pink and white silk, with an over-skirt of soft, rich lace.  This, after it was completed, was tried on at least half a dozen times, and the effect carefully studied before the long mirror.  Anna, who cared much less for dress than her sister, decided upon a black flounced skirt and velvet basque.  This was Mr. Everett’s taste, and whatever suited him suited her.

“I do think it’s too bad that ’Lena is not invited,” said she one day, when Carrie, as usual, was discussing the party.  “She would enjoy it so much.  I don’t understand, either, why she is omitted, for Mr. Graham seemed to like her, and Durward too——­”