It was not so easy to withstand Caroline speaking in this way, as Mrs. Lyddell almost scolding and Clara talking nonsense; but Marian had made up her mind, and would not let herself be shaken. 'I don't think I can,' was her answer.
'Will you say whether you really think it wrong?'
'I don't know.' Not her considering 'I don't know,' but the dry, provoking end-of-the-matter answer of half sullen days gone by.
'If you really thought it positively wrong,' proceeded Caroline, 'not another word would I say: but I don't see how you can without condemning all gaeties, and that I know you do not.'
'I only think it a--a waste of time--a great deal of nonsense,' said Marian, faltering for an answer; 'and really I have spent so much money; I do not like to throw away any more.'
'O, you do not know how we have settled that,' said Caroline, beginning to be hopeful now that she had something tangible to attack. 'The dresses for the morning will be nothing,--only a white skirt and green polka, which will do to wear for ever after, and a little ruff, very pretty, and no expense at all; and a little alteration will make our court dresses perfectly suitable for Queen Elizabeth's ladies. You need not be at all afraid of being ruined.'
Marian saw that, though there would be many a little expense to make a mickle one, yet it would still only cost her Mrs. Jameson, instead of the gifts to the poor people; but as this was what chiefly justified her in her own eyes, she would not admit the conviction, and answered, 'Those things that are altered and adapted really are as costly in the end as if they were new altogether. Besides, I could not, I really could not shoot before such an assembly.'
'I should so like to see you get the arrow.'
'O Caroline, that would be worse than anything!'
'Well, then, don't get it; shoot as badly as you please: only do be kind and make one of us, or you will spoil the whole concern.'
'How can that be? What difference can my dressing up or shooting make to any one?'
'Why, for one thing, if you are not one, as you must be, living with us and all, Julia will be obliged to ask that Miss Grimley; don't you know her?'
'What, that old young lady who has been figuring in the newspaper so long as getting all the archery prizes?'
'Yes, the veteran archer, as Elliot calls her; and Mr. Faulkner says, if she appears in character at all, it must be as Queen Elizabeth herself dancing a stately pavise to the sound of the little fiddle. She is some connection of theirs, and must be asked, if you will not take it; and she is almost as bad as Queen Elizabeth herself, and will give none of us any peace about the dresses, O Marian! Julia said she should esteem it as a real kindness from you if you would be Lady Anne, if only for the sake of keeping her out!'
'I think it would be very absurd for a person who hates the whole concern to be dragged in, for the sake of keeping out one who likes it!'
'Then you are still resolved? Well, I had not much expectation, but still I was half inclined to hope you would relent, if you did not think it a point of principle, when you knew that it would be a real favor to me.'
'To you, Caroline! you do not care for such trumpery.'
'I do care about seeing my friends mortified and vexed,' said Caroline, mournfully.
'Your friends!' exclaimed Marian, in a voice of contempt.
'Yes, as much as kindness can make them.'
'And esteem? O Caroline!'
