And the young man retired to dream of debts liquidated by the gold which a marriage with Ella Campbell would bring him.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE PARTY.

“Bring me my new dress, Jenny; I want to see if the Honiton lace on the caps is as wide as Ida Selden’s.”

“What do you mean?” asked Jenny, turning quickly towards her sister, whose white, wasted face looked fitter for a shroud than a gay party dress.

“I mean what I say,” returned Rose; “I’m not going to be cooped up here any longer.  I’m going to the party to-morrow night, if I never go again!”

“Why, Rose Lincoln, are you crazy?” asked Jenny.  “You haven’t been in the street yet, and how do you expect to go to-morrow night?  Mother wouldn’t let you, if she were here.”

“Well, thank fortune, she and father both are in Southbridge; and besides that, I’m a great deal better; so hand me my dress.”

Jenny complied, and reclining on pillows scarcely whiter than herself, Rose Lincoln examined and found fault with a thin gossamer fabric, none suited for any one to wear in a cold wintry night, and much less for her.

“There, I knew it wasn’t as wide as Ida’s into an eighth of an inch,” said she, measuring with her finger the expensive lace.  “I’ll have some new.  Come, Jenny, suppose you go down street and get it, for I’m bent upon going;” and the thoughtless girl sprang lightly upon the floor, and chassed half way across the room to show how well and strong she was.

Jenny knew that further expostulation from her was useless, but she refused to go for the lace, and Sarah, the servant girl, was sent with a note from Rose saying she wanted a nice article, 8 or 10 dollars per yard.

“I don’t believe father would like to have you make such a bill,” said Jenny when Sarah was gone.  “Mother didn’t dare tell him about your new dress, for he told her she mustn’t get any thing charged, and he said, too, something about hard times.  Perhaps he’s going to fail.  Wouldn’t it be dreadful?”

If Rose heard the last part of this sentence she did not need it, for to her the idea of her father’s failing was preposterous.  When the dinner bell rang she threw on a heavy shawl, and descending to the dining parlor, remained below stairs all the afternoon, forcing back her cough, and chatting merrily with a group of young girls who had called to see her, and congratulated her upon her improved health, for excitement lent a deep glow to her cheek, which would easily deceive the inexperienced.  The next day, owing to overexertion, Rose’s temples were throbbing with pain, and more than once, she half determined not to go; but her passion for society was strong, and Mrs. Russell’s party had so long been anticipated and talked about that she felt she would not miss it for the world, and as she had confessed to Jenny, there was also a mean curiosity to see how Mary Howard would appear at a fashionable party.