"No, oh, no!" Helen replied. "I know it was all meant well; but there is something in me which rebels against taking this from Wilford. He had better have sent to Silverton for that trunk. Its contents have never been disturbed, and surely there might be something found good enough for me."
It was the first time Helen had alluded to that trunk; but Katy did not think that anything ill-natured was meant by the remark. She only felt that Helen shrank from receiving so much from Wilford, as it was natural she should, and she hastened to reassure her, using all her powers to comfort her until she at last grew calm enough to examine and admire the Christmas gifts upon which no expense had been spared. Much as we may ignore dress, and sinful as is an inordinate love for it, there is yet about it an influence for good, when the heart of the wearer is right, holding it subservient to all higher, holier affections. At least Helen Lennox found it so, when, clad in her new garments, which added so much to her good looks, she drove with Mrs. Banker, or returned Sybil Grandon's call, feeling that there was about her nothing for which Katy need to blush, or even Wilford, who blandly invited her one pleasant day to drive with him to the Park, seeming so disappointed when told that he had been forestalled by Mr. Ray, whose fine turnout attracted less attention that afternoon than did the handsome lady at his side, Helen Lennox, who bade fair to rival even her Sister Katy tarrying at home, and listening with delight to the flattering things which Wilford reported as having been said of Helen by those for whose opinion he cared the most. He was not afraid to be seen with her now, and Helen, while knowing the reason of the change, did not feel like quarreling with him for it, but accepted with a good-natured grace of what made her life in New York very happy. With Bell Cameron she was on the best of terms; while Sybil Grandon, always going with the tide, professed for her an admiration, which, whether fancied or real, did much toward making her popular; and when, as the mistress of her brother's house, she issued cards of invitation for a large party, she took especial pains to insist upon Helen's attending, even if Katy were not able. But from this Helen shrank. She could not meet so many strangers alone, she said, and so the matter was dropped, until Mrs. Banker offered to chaperone her, when Helen began to waver, changing her mind at last and promising to go.
Never since the days of her first party had Katy been so wild with excitement as she was in deciding upon Helen's dress, which well became the wearer, who scarcely knew herself when, before the mirror, with the blaze of the chandelier falling upon her, she saw the picture of a young girl arrayed in rich pink silk, with an overskirt of lace, and the light pretty cloak, just thrown upon her uncovered neck, where Katy's pearls were shining. Even Wilford was pleased, and stood by admiring her almost as much as Katy.
"What would they say at home if they could only see you?" Katy exclaimed, throwing back the handsome cloak so as to show more of the well-shaped neck, gleaming so white beneath it.
"Aunt Betsy would say I had forgotten half my dress," Helen replied, blushing as she glanced at the uncovered arms, which never since her childhood had been thus exposed to view, except at such times as her household duties had required it.
Even this exception would not apply to the low neck, at which Helen long demurred, yielding finally to Katy's entreaties, but often wondering what Mark Ray would think, and if he would not be shocked. Mark Ray had been strangely blended with all Helen's thoughts as she submitted herself to Esther's practiced hands, and when the hairdresser, summoned to her aid, asked what flowers she would wear, it was a thought of him which led her to select a single water lily, which looked as natural as if its bed had really been the bosom of Fairy Pond.
"Nothing else? Surely mademoiselle will have these few green leaves?" Celine had said, but Helen would have nothing save the lily, which was twined tastefully amid the heavy braids of the brown hair, whose length and luxuriance had thrown the hairdresser into ecstasies of delight, and made Esther lament that in these days of false tresses no one would give Miss Lennox credit for what was wholly her own.
"You will be the belle of the evening," Katy said, as she kissed her sister good-night and then ran back to her baby, while Wilford, yielding to her importunities that he should not remain with her, followed Mrs. Banker's carriage in his own private conveyance, and was soon set down at Sybil Grandon's door.
Meanwhile, at the elder Cameron's there had been a discussion touching the propriety of their taking Helen under their protection, instead of leaving her to Mrs. Banker to chaperone, Bell insisting that it ought to be done, while the father swore roundly at the imperious Juno, who would not "be bothered with that country girl."
"You would rather leave her wholly to Mark Ray and his mother, I suppose," Bell said, adding, as she saw the flush on Juno's face. "You know you are dying of jealousy, and nothing annoys you so much as to hear people talk of Mark's attentions to Miss Lennox."