The Evil Genius: A Domestic Story — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

48 THE EVIL GENIUS. neighbors of the Linleys at dinner on their arrival. The time for this yearly festival had now come round again; the guests were in the house; and Mr. and Mrs. Linley were occupied in making their arrangements for the dinner-party. With her un- failing consideration for every one about her, Mrs. Linley did not forget Sydney while she was sending out her cards of invi- tation. ‘‘ Our table will be full at dinner,” she said to her hus- band, ‘‘ Miss Westerfieid had better join us in the evening with Kitty.” ‘‘T suppose so,” Linley answered, with some hesitation. ‘You seem to doubt about it, Herbert. Why?” ‘“T was only wondering A ‘Wondering about what?” ‘¢ Has Miss Westerfield got a gown, Catherine, that will do fora @ party ?” Patents wife looked at him as if she doubted the evidence of her own senses. ‘‘Fancy a man thinking of that!” she ex- claimed. ‘‘ Herbert, you astonish me.” He laughed uneasily. ‘‘I don’t know how I came to think of it—unless it is, that she wears the same dress every day. Very neat; but (perhaps ’!'m wrong) a little shabby too.” ‘‘Upon my word, you pay Miss Westerfield a compliment which you have never paid to me! Wear what I may, you never seem to know how J am dressed.” ‘‘T beg your pardon, Catherine, I know that you are always dressed well.” That little tribute restored him to his place in his wite’s es- timation. ‘‘ I may tell you now,” she resumed, with her gentle smile, ‘that you only remind me of what I had thought of al- ready. My milliner is at work for Miss Westerfield. The new dress must be your gift.” ‘¢ Are you joking ?” ‘‘T am in earnest. To-morrow is Sydney’s birthday; and here is my present.” She opened a jeweler’s case, and took out a plain gold bracelet. ‘‘Suggested by Kitty.” she added, pointing to an inlaid miniature portrait of the child. Herbert read the inscription: To Sydney Westerfield, with Catherine Linley’s love. He gave the bracelet back to his wife in silence; his manner was more serious than usual —he kissed her hand. * + % * % The day of the dinner-party marked an epoch in Sydney’s ife. For the first time, in all her past experience, she could look in the glass, and see herself prettily dressed, with a gold bracelet on herarm. If we consider how men (in one way) and milliners (in another) profit by it, vanity is surely to be reckoned, not among the vices but among the virtues of the sex. Will any woman, who speaks the truth, hesitate to acknowledge that her first sensations of gratified vanity rank among the most ex- quisite and most enduring pleasures that she has ever felt? Svdney locked her docr, and exhibited herself to herself—in the front view, the side view, and the back view (over the shoulder), with eyes that sparkled and cheeks that glowed in a delicious Gomicbooksreo