A cool, tasteful costume of blue and white lawn, with pale-blue ribbons fluttering here and there, lent an artistic grace to her appearance that made Jaquelina shrink into herself upon the doorstep, feeling dowdy, miserable and commonplace by the contrast.
Jaquelina knew no one on earth whom she envied so much as this fair and self-possessed young lady—the petted, only daughter of the wealthiest man in the county.
"Good-afternoon, Miss Earle. Will you walk into the sitting-room?" inquired Mrs. Meredith, a little flustered by the lovely young visitor's appearance.
She led the way to the little sitting-room where the baby slumbered peacefully still, and they sat down, Jaquelina with her slim finger between the pages of her book.
"Lina, I have come to invite you to a party to-morrow night," Violet said, graciously.
Jaquelina's brune face flushed, her scarlet lips trembled with pleasure.
"My brother and one of his classmates are come from college for a visit, and mamma is going to give us a party. Will you come, Lina?"
Jaquelina glanced at Mrs. Meredith.
"Yes, if Aunt Meredith will permit me," she answered, frankly.
"Of course she will," Violet said, looking at the hostess, who frowned slightly as she said, almost bruskly: