A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

93 A LADY BACHELOR. wity. She had not got well within the magic circle, but there were good prospects, and she must be exceedingly eareiul. The fact that a fashion journal had announced a juncheon-party she had attended, given by a lady of un- doubted social distinction, added to her high ideas. She looked over the guests and determined to assume the ex- clusive. She had heard about the designing Eloise; had geen her, and had become inoculated with the prevailing prejudice. The young married lady innocently introduced Hloise to the daughter. The latter received the introduc- tion with studied coldness, and a little later met and stared at our heroine as though she had never seen her before. Hloise expected it, and did not put herself in the way of «eceiving a direct insult; but on the following morning she met a penalty that made her, for the moment, quite un- happy. Her friend, the young married lady who had been intimate and cordial the previous evening, passed her with cold and distant bow, and the reason was evident—she felt it a distinction to be recognized on intimate terms with this exclusive family, whose only claim to exclusivenesg was really builded upon nothing. These people were not rich, not cultivated, evidently lacked true refinement; in- deed, owned no distinction but their airs, and had nothing else to give. But they had made an impression. The daughter would not recognize or associate with a girl whe was so unfortunate as to be single at eight-and-twenty, and a preference could only be maintained by the ‘* dropping ”’ of Eloise. What cared she that the former was a dear, sweet person, a delightful companion? No, no; she had She social craze; the notice she had received held out en Gomichbooks (E@)