"You didn't wear that new pink gingham dress that I had to hire made, trimmed with all that lace and ribbon, to meeting to-night ?" said Maria's mother.
Maria said nothing.

It seemed to her that such an obvious fact scarcely needed words of assent.
"Damp as it is, too," said her mother.
Mrs.Edgham extended a lean, sallow hand and felt of the dainty fabric.

"It is just as limp as a rag," said she, "about spoiled." "I held it up," said Maria then, with feeble extenuation.
"Held it up!" repeated her mother, with scorn.
"I thought maybe you wouldn't care." "Wouldn't care! That was the reason why you went out the other door then.

I wondered why you did.

Putting on that new pink gingham dress that I had to hire made, trimmed with all that lace and ribbon, and wearing it out in the evening, damp as it is to-night! I don't see what you were thinking of, Maria Edgham." Maria looked down disconsolately at the lace-trimmed ruffles on her skirt, but even then she thought how pretty it was, and how pretty she must look herself standing so forlornly before her mother.