No girl could make better use of her time; but then, think of her difficulties! All that she did would have to be done under the very eyes of the man to whom she was engaged, and to whom she wished to remain engaged,--unless, as she said to herself, she could "pull off the other event." A great deal must depend on appearance.

As she and her mother were out on a lengthened cruise among long-suffering acquaintances, going to the De Brownes after the Gores, and the Smijthes after the De Brownes, with as many holes to run to afterwards as a four-year-old fox,--though with the same probability of finding them stopped,--of course she had her wardrobe with her.

To see her night after night one would think that it was supplied with all that wealth would give.

But there were deficiencies and there were make-shifts, very well known to herself and well understood by her maid.

She could generally supply herself with gloves by bets, as to which she had never any scruple in taking either what she did win or did not, and in dunning any who might chance to be defaulters.