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.
"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—"