“Not quite so plain as that, Evie. You know I don’t dislike ornament--only the unharmonious profusion of it in which--” “I indulge, Eunie.” “A simpler style of dress and ornament would doubtless become you better,” said Eunice, again smiling. “That, you know, I have always said.” “Yes, and I have always said that a little more of both would make in you a wonderful improvement.” “Perhaps they might. We are all apt to run into extremes; though I think the extreme of plainness is better than its opposite.” “I don’t know. All extremes are bad.” “Even the extreme of gay dressing?” “Certainly. But you know, sister, that I don’t plead guilty to that folly. I have attained the happy medium in dress.” “So you say. Well, if yours be the happy medium, Evie, a stage-dancer’s must be the extreme.” “That’s your opinion, and I won’t quarrel with you about it. But it’s time, Eunie, that we were selecting our dresses, be they gay or plain.” “So it is; but it won’t take me long to make a choice. How would I look in a white muslin, with just a little satin trimming?” “Nonsense, Eunie! White muslin with satin trimming, indeed!” “I don’t know any thing more beautiful or becoming than white.” “Don’t you, indeed! Perhaps I might suggest something?” “Not for me, Evie,” returned Eunice, good-humoredly. “It will be best for each of us to consult her own taste; and if we do run a little into opposite extremes, it will be no very serious matter.” Eveline could not but agree with this and so the good-natured contest ended. The leading traits of character that marked the two sisters, appear, to some extent, in this conversation. Eveline was a gay, high-spirited girl, who was fond of pleasure, and enjoyed, sometimes, even to excess, the privileges afforded by her position; while Eunice was retiring and thoughtful, and took more delight in doing some useful thing, than in dress or fashionable company. But, opposite as were their dispositions, they were tenderly affectionate towards each other, and had been so from childhood. At the time our story opens, Eveline was twenty, and Eunice in the nineteenth year of her age. For nearly a year, Eveline had been receiving the attentions of a young man named Henry Pascal, son of a wealthy merchant and friend of her father. Pascal was in Europe, where he had been spending some months, and was in familiar correspondence with Eveline. Although no regular engagement had been made, yet it was pretty well understood, in both families, that a marriage between the young couple would take place. Eunice had no acknowledged lover, although many had looked upon her pure young face with loving eyes. CHAPTER III. CONFIDENCE IN HUMAN PRUDENCE SHAKEN.