I am only to be a book-lady, a penwiper-lady, a needle-and-thread-lady, you know, Nell." "Oh, Hetty! a penwiper-lady!" "Yes, haven't you seen them at bazaars ?" said Hetty, screwing up her little nose to keep from laughing.
"I never know whether you are in earnest when you begin like that," said Nell pouting; "I suppose you don't want to come with us." However, when Hetty heard that she had really got leave to go "for this once, because Edith and Grace had made such a point of it," there was no mistake about her gladness to join in the fun.
"How will you ever keep me at home after this ?" she said, as Phyllis and Nell stood surveying her dressed in one of their cast-off frocks, of a rose-coloured tint which suited her brunette complexion.

"I shall be getting into your pockets the next time, and tumbling out in the ball-room with your pocket-handkerchief." "No one wants to keep you at home, except for your own good," said Phyllis with an air of wisdom.
"Never mind, Phyllis, it won't be into your pocket that I shall creep," said Hetty gaily.
Phyllis did not feel like herself that evening, and was dissatisfied about she knew not what.

She could not admit to herself that she was displeased because another was to enjoy a treat, even though she thought she had a right to her belief that it would have been better if Hetty had been made to stay at home.

"Of course, as mother consents, it is all right," she had said; but still she did not feel as much enjoyment as usual in dressing for the party.

Half suspecting the cause of this, and willing to restore her good opinion of her own virtue, she brought a pretty fan to Hetty and offered to lend it to her.