' 42 AN EVENING AT HOME.

 

“Tt isn’t possible, Helen, that you are
not going to this ball ?” said she.

Helen looked up with a half-serious, half-
smiling expression on her face:

“Tve been trying, for the last half-
hour,” she replied, -“‘to decide whether I
ought to go, or stay at home. I think,
perhaps, I ought to remain at home.”

“But what earthly reason can you
have for doing so? Don’t you like your
dress ?”

“Oh yes! very much. I think it beau-
tiful.”

“ Doesn’t it fit you?”

“ As well as any dress I ever had.”

“ Are you not well?”

“Very well.”

“Then why not go to the ball?” It will
be the largest and most fashionable of the
season. You know that your father and
myself are both going. We shall want to
see you there, of course. Your father will
require some very good reason for your ab-
sence.”