The sisters were astonished, and rather vexed; Louise quite offended. Had they not already agreed about it? What was to become of the Three Graces?
Sara answered, that the third Grace might be whoever she would, but for her part she should not have that honour.
The sisters thought her very ungracious.
Eva ran up to Leonore in order to show her her purchases.
"Look at this rose, Leonore," said she, "is it not very pretty? just as if it were natural! And these ribbons!"
"Yes, yes," said Leonore, with a depressed voice, regarding these ornaments with a gloomy look; and then pushing them from her so hastily that they fell on the floor, burst into tears. Eva was quite concerned; a book had fallen on her beautiful rose and had crushed it. For one moment Eva shed tears over her flower, the next over her sister.
"Why have you done so, Leonore?" said she; "you must be very ill, or are you displeased with me?"
"No, no!" said poor Leonore; "forgive me, and leave me."
"Why?" asked Eva. "Ah, do not weep—do not distress yourself. It was quite thoughtless of me to come here and——But I will bid farewell to all the magnificence; I will not go to the ball; I will stop at home with you, only tell me that you love me, and that you would like me to do so. Just say so—say so!"