Bad Hugh

"Invited him! Who said she had? It's only one card for me," and with a

most satisfied expression 'Lina presented the rote to her mother, whose

pale face flushed at the insult thus offered her son--an insult which

even 'Lina felt, but would not acknowledge, lest it should interfere

with her going.

"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."