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."