"Oh, Clara," said she, "do come and help me find that song Captain McArthur wanted me to sing the other night." "Which?" said Clara, without seeming to care; then suddenly bethinking herself, "This is Ada Arundel, Marion; my friend, you know." Marion shook hands, and Ada had an impression that she looked her over from head to foot. Clara went to the other side of the room and turned over the music with her sister; and though Ada was talking to Mrs. May, she could not help watching the girls; nor could she think it was only her fancy, when she saw Clara shrug her shoulders, that she was speaking to her sister about her. The guests now began to arrive, and Clara was soon taken up with their entertainment. Ada found herself nearly forgotten, and was only introduced to one more person the whole evening. This time Clara did not say "my friend," but rather ungraciously added, "one of our girls." But for this introduction Ada would have been nearly forsaken. Mrs. May spoke to her once or twice, but otherwise she was left to herself. After a few songs, dancing was proposed, and everyone brightened up. Clara came to her, and said, rather carelessly, "Do you dance, Ada?" and on Ada's shake of the head she turned away, and was soon flitting past in her airy dress. [Illustration: "You don't know those people very well, my dear," said the lady who was sitting by her.] "You don't know these people very well, my dear?" said the lady to whom she had been introduced, who was sitting by her. "No," said Ada, while tears of vexation gathered in her eyes; "I did not know, ma'am, that it was to be a party." "Never mind that," said the lady cheerily; "at least if you mean your dress, my dear. We should try and look at things from above." "From above?" asked Ada, looking up in the placid face, and feeling at once a sense of relief. "Yes, my dear; these things are not worth all the thought and trouble we give ourselves over them." "That's like my mamma," said Ada; "but—" "Yes, I understand. There are a great many 'buts,' Miss Arundel, but the less we think of them, the happier we shall be. So your mamma advises you to look at things from above?" "Not in those words," said Ada, smiling; "but she tells us to look at things in the light of eternity." "Ah! And so we should, dear. It will not make much difference then whether we were at a party in Eaton Square, with a dress just a little too heavy. I am staying here with my niece, Mrs. May, and when I came downstairs to-night, rather wishing there were no party, I did not think I should meet a little body who would be glad of my old company." Ada looked up reassured, and then she and the sweet old lady fell into one of those pleasant talks which rest the spirit, and before Ada knew how time was passing, Clara touched her on the shoulder, and whispered, "Your carriage is come for you, but you needn't go yet." "Oh, I must!" said Ada, rising quickly.