Once or twice she saw Annie Day's eyes fixed upon her;
she turned from their glance; a more brilliant red than usual dyed her
cheeks; her laugh grew louder and more insolent.
On this evening the Elliot-Smiths would give their long-promised
party. The wish of Annie Day's heart was gratified; she had angled for
an invitation to this merry-making and obtained it. Lucy Marsh was
also going, and several other St. Benet's girls would be present.
Early in the evening Rosalind retired to her own room, locked her
door, and, taking out her new white dress, laid it across the bed. It
was a very pretty dress, made of soft silk, which did not rustle, but
lay in graceful puffs and folds on body and skirt. It was just the
dress to make this young, slight figure of Rosalind's look absolutely
charming. She stood over it now and regarded it lovingly. The dress
had been obtained, like most of Rosalind's possessions, by manoeuvres.
She had made up a piteous story, and her adoring mother had listened
and contrived to deny herself and some of Rosalind's younger sisters
to purchase the white robe on which the young girl's heart was set.
Deliberately and slowly Rosalind made her toilet, her golden, curling
hair was brushed out and then carefully coiled round her head.
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