"Trifles light as air
Seemed confirmation strong as Holy Writ"
as she viewed them now.
"Even the guests notice how attentive he is to her," she said to herself, with a bitter sob, wringing her cold little hands and clutching them tightly over her heart.
Suddenly she heard the sound of voices, and sank down upon a seat at hand until they should pass by.
She did not know that the seat which she had selected on the broad piazza was directly back of one of the large, vine-wreathed, fluted pillars, and in the dense shadow.
This time she readily divined that the voices must belong to two light-hearted, happy girls.
"Are you having a good time, Grace, dear?" asked one.
"Oh, quite the jolliest I have ever had in all my life!" was the reply. "I haven't missed one dance, and all my partners have been so handsome—quite the prettiest fellows in the ball-room! And how is it with you?"
"Oh, I'm enjoying myself, too!" laughed the other girl, "But did you notice what a ninny I had in that last waltz-quadrille? Don't you hate partners who stand away off, and barely touch your finger-tips as they dance with you? Upon my word, I'd rather have the straight-as-a-mackerel kind, who hold you so tight you can scarcely catch your breath!"
And at this both girls went off into uproarious laughter, when suddenly one of them exclaimed: