THE DISAPPOINTMENT.
"What a mortification! What a vexation! Nobody, surely, in the whole world is so plagued as I am!"—"My dear sister, my dear Bell, what has happened?"—"My white satin shoes are not come,—it is six o'clock, and I must begin presently to dress for the ball." Annie could not resist smiling at the smallness of the mighty calamity; but, never happy when her sister was otherwise, she hastened to soften matters. "You only suffer neighbours' fare, Bell; for I am also disappointed of my dashing shoes."—"Oh! but you don't care for these things."—"I don't care to make myself miserable for such trifles, certainly."—"Trifles! No trifles, I think—one can't dance without shoes."—"But you have others, sister,—your black satin."—"One can't be always wearing black satin shoes."—"Then those lovely grey slippers, which mamma gave you."—"Quite out of fashion, child—obsolete—old as my grandmother."—"Ha! ha! Then grandmamma is a very young old woman; for, if I recollect rightly, those slippers were given you three weeks ago."—"You are a most accurate person, Annie."—"Nay, I cannot fail to remember the day; it was your birthday, dearest Isabel."—"And a miserable day it was."—"Oh! sister!" exclaimed Annie. "Yes, miserable! the dance went off very badly; and the supper was a shame to be seen."—"And poor mamma took such trouble about it! I thought nothing could be better."—"You! Oh! you are contented with any thing."—"And is not that wise, Isabel?"—"Yes; but persons of feeling, of sensibility, are more alive to what is disagreeable."—"The greater feeling must make one also more alive to what is agreeable."
The sight of the shoes stopped the conversation: but there was only one pair. "Not mine, I am sure; I am never so lucky!" said Bell. But they were hers; and Annie pronounced them the sweetest pair that ever were seen.—"Yours are not come, Miss," said the maid.—"Never mind, never mind," cried Annie; "my black shoes will do very well."
The sisters went to the ball: Annie all mirth and good humour; Isabel with the stately dignity of a young lady who expects to be considered the best dressed damsel at the ball: but there were a hundred others thought the same, and had as good a right to think so. Isabel was not exclusive, was not immensely distinguished, and she pronounced the ball detestable. "I do believe these nasty shoes spoilt my dancing. New shoes are always so uncomfortable; and my partners were always admiring your shoes, Annie; always teazing me to be introduced to the charming girl in black shoes."