Isabel Coolidge spared no pains or expense to make herself captivating for the occasion, and she succeeded admirably.
Her father’s unexpected return, and his anger at her own and her mother’s treatment of Miss Douglas, had threatened to upset all her plans, however.
He demanded that the jewels be brought to him, and another exciting scene ensued over them.
It must be confessed that he was somewhat confounded himself when he beheld them, and a feeling of doubt entered his mind regarding Brownie’s honesty; but he would not confess it to his family, and censured them in no light terms for the dishonorable way in which they had become possessed of the rare stones.
It all ended in angry tears on the mother’s and daughter’s part, and in his taking charge of those unfortunate trinkets which had caused so much trouble, and locking them securely in his safe.
Isabel dawdled away the morning in a state of fretful unhappiness, and declared to herself, over and over again, that her appearance would be ruined without the governess’s jewels.
After dinner, however, her father complained of a raging headache; two hours later he was in a high fever, and all thoughts of his attending the evening’s festivities were relinquished.
From that moment Isabel’s spirits rose, the clouds vanished from her brow, and she was even heard humming a gay opera air.
“Wilbur can act as our escort, mamma; so we shall be all right,” she said, when her mother complained of the circumstance as spoiling all their pleasure.
“I have no heart for it, and would not go myself, were it not on your account,” she replied, wearily.