"Harry would be a great match for her," said Emma, indignantly--"and she knows it. She might get more money, perhaps, but think of the difference of position." "Yes, I suppose that has something to do with it," replied Tom. "You women all think so much of such things." "Strange!" repeated Mrs. Castleton, "I don't know how Harry can fancy such a girl." "Don't you know all objects vary according to the light they are in," said Tom. "If Harry saw Miss Dawson among young ladies of a different style and stamp, the changes of the 'dissolving views' would not be greater. The present picture would fade away, and a new, and in all probability a very different one, would take its place." "That's a good idea!" exclaimed Mrs. Castleton, suddenly, and clapping her hands joyfully. "I'll call and ask her to my party for the bride." Emma looked at her for a moment aghast, as if she thought she had suddenly gone crazy. "What do you mean, Laura?" she exclaimed. "Why, to follow out Tom's idea," she said. "It's excellent! I'm going to give Mrs. Flemming a party. I'll make it very select, and not large; invite all the prettiest and most elegant girls, and then play amiable to Harry, by telling him I'll call upon his Miss Dawson and invite her." Emma looked very dubious, and said, "I don't like our countenancing the thing in this way." "You need have nothing to do with it," returned her sister. "As it seems you and Harry have had words about it, you had better not; but _I_'ll call--I'll have her. And it shall be such an elegant, select little affair that it will show her off to charming advantage," she continued, with much animation, delighted with her own cleverness in the scheme. "He can't help but be ashamed of her. Don't you think so, Tom?" The young man laughed. "Now, Tom," said she, a little disappointed, "don't you think so?" "There's a good chance of it, certainly," he replied. "You can but try it." "Then why do you laugh," she continued, still dissatisfied. "Only to see what spiteful creatures you women are," he continued, smiling. "To see the pains you'll take to put down a girl you don't happen to fancy." "Surely, you yourself, Tom," commenced Mrs. Castleton, seriously, and "I am sure, Tom," chimed in Emma, in the same breath, "you have always said--" and then they both poured forth such a torrent of reminiscences and good reasons for wishing to prevent the match, that he was glad to cry for mercy, and ended by saying seriously, "I am sure I hope you may succeed." CHAPTER II. "Harry," said Mrs. Castleton, in her prettiest and most winning manner, "I am going to call on your friend, Miss Dawson, and invite her for Thursday evening." Harry looked up very much astonished, hardly knowing whether to be pleased or not, and said, "What put that in your head?" "I want to know her," continued Mrs. Castleton. "They tell me you admire her, Harry; and if she is to be my future sister, as people say--"