University of Virginia Library

12. CHAPTER XII.
THE PARTY.

The account at the grocer's remained unsettled;
there were so many demands for cash,
and the very fact of owing it being a proof
of such domestic mismanagement that Mr. Harley
could not endure to think of it.

Mrs. Howe's party was a splendid affair. It
gave Mrs. Harley new strength to encounter
her numerous vexations, because she felt it added
very much to one's happiness to have an
opportunity to make so public a display. She
really longed for her night to come. Mr. Harley,
too, although from different motives, said
“he should be thankful to say it was well over.”

We will pass by the intervening difficulties
which every day brought with it, together with
bad management in the kitchen, and trouble in
the nursery, and mistakes in the parlour, and
place ourselves in Mr. Harley's house on the
morning of the twenty-sixth of March.

Mrs. Harley rose an hour earlier than usual

to have breakfast over, so that all might have
time to discharge their duties. By some misunderstanding,
the glass and china to be used
that night did not arrive till morning, and in
the hurry of washing and wiping, several valuable
articles were broken. The carpenter
came to fix up the ornaments for the side-lights,
and to plane the floors, while a man was waiting
to chalk out the figures, which were to be
obliterated in much less time than he was employed
in tracing them. Oysters were being
delivered at the back door, wines at the front.
Jethro was running in one direction, Dinah in
another. Beds were to be taken down, tables
to be arranged, lamps filled, and flowers put
into their vases: altogether, such a scene of
confusion presented itself, that Mrs. Harley,
half in desperation, sat herself down, and began
reading, for the fourth time, the list of acceptances
and refusals. While doing so, the
thought struck her that several were omitted
who ought to have been invited. However,
it was then too late to remedy the evil.

About nine the first carriage arrived, filled
with Mr. and Mrs. Barton and their two daughters,
the very people whom she had hoped

would not come. Soon after came the Millers
and Rodmans—all very sensible people, yet
not so fashionable as was thought desirable by
Mrs. Harley. Then came a whole train too
numerous to mention: in short, out of three
hundred invited, two hundred actually came.
The furnace, having been replenished by Jethro,
who thought, as company was coming,
he must have a good fire, sent forth a most intense
heat, which, as the crowd thickened, became
insupportable. The windows were raised,
at the imminent danger of stiff necks, lame
shoulders, and severe colds, since no one could
dance in this heated atmosphere. The music,
which had been admirably selected, sounded
miserably, on account of the crowd.

About twelve there was a tremendous rush
to the supper-table. Blonde laces were torn,
dresses stepped upon, elbows protruded in vain
to force a passage, as not more than half the
guests could get a sight of Mrs. Harley's elegant
supper-table. On the whole, the entertainment
was pronounced a decided failure.
In an hour or two the people dispersed, and
Mr. and Mrs. Harley were left to their reflections,
which were not the most agreeable. Mr.

Harley's were, that he had given a party which
cost him upward of three hundred dollars, and
that many of the company had had no opportunity
to see or taste what his bounty had provided.

Mrs. Harley looked sadly upon her dress,
on which some one had spilled a glass of wine,
which ruined it entirely. She felt heart-sick
herself, for she had observed the countenances
of some of the party, which expressed anything
but satisfaction. She could not but think that
it was a very heartless affair to visit in a crowd:
it was not worth half the trouble it occasioned.
Mr. Harley thought it was not worth half
the expense.