“You won’t go, of course,” Mrs. Worthington said, quietly.  “You’ll resent her slighting Hugh.”

“Indeed I shan’t,” the young lady retorted.  “I hardly think it fair in Ellen, but I shall accept, of course, and I must go to town to-day to see about having my pink silk fixed.  I think I’ll have some black lace festooned around the skirt.  How I wish I could have a new one.  Do you suppose Hugh has any money?”

“None for new dresses or lace flounces, either,” Mrs. Worthington replied, “I fancy he begins to look old and worn with this perpetual call for money from us.  We must economize.”

“Never mind, when I get Bob Harney I’ll pay off old scores,” ’Lina said, laughingly, as she arose from the table, and went to look over her wardrobe.

Meanwhile Hugh had returned, meeting in the kitchen with Lulu.

“Well, Lu, what is it?  What’s happened?” Hugh asked, as he saw she was full of some important matter.

In an instant the impetuous Lulu told him of the party to which he was not invited, together with the reason why, and the word she had sent back.

“I’ll give ’em a piece of my mind!” she said, as she saw Hugh change color.  “She may have old Harney.  His man John told Claib how his a master said he meant to get me and Rocket, too, some day; me for her waiting maid, I reckon.  You won’t sell me, Master High, will you?” and Lulu’s soft black eyes looked pleadingly up to Hugh.

“Never!” and Hugh’s riding whip came down upon the table with a force which made Lulu start.

Satisfied that she was safe from Ellen Tiffton’s whims, Lulu darted away, singing as she went, while Hugh entered the sitting-room, where ’Lina sat, surrounded by her party finery, and prepared to do the amiable to the utmost.

“That really is a handsome little boy upstairs,” she said, as if she supposed it were her mother who came in; then with an affected start she added, “Oh, it’s you!  I thought ’twas mother.  Don’t you think, Ellen has not invited you.  Mean, isn’t it?”

“Ellen can do as she likes,” Hugh replied, adding, as he guessed the meaning of all that finery, “you surely are not going?”

“Why not?” and ’Lina’s black eyes flashed full upon him.

“I thought perhaps you would decline for my sake,” he replied.

An angry retort trembled on ’Lina’s lip, but she had an object to attain, so she restrained herself and answered that “she had thought of it, but such a course would do no good, and she wanted to go so much, the Tifftons were so exclusive and aristocratic.”

Hugh whistled a little contemptuously, but ’Lina kept her temper, and continued, coaxingly: 

“Everybody is to be there, and after what has been said about—­about—­your being rather—­close, you’d like to have your sister look decent, I know; and really, Hugh, I can’t unless you give me a little money.  Do, Hugh, be good for once.”

“Ad, I can’t,” and Hugh spoke sorrowfully, for a kind word from ’Lina always touched his weaker side.  “I would if I could, but honestly I’ve only twenty-five dollars in the world, and I’ve thought of a new coat.  I don’t like to look so shabby.  It hurts me worse than it does you,” and Hugh’s voice trembled as he spoke.