"Don't you know that a pair of Limerick gloves is, as one may say, a ticket to this ball?
for every lady that has been asked has had a pair sent to her along with the card; and I believe as many as twenty, besides myself, have been asked this morning." Jenny then produced her new pair of Limerick gloves, and as she tried them on, and showed how well they fitted, she counted up the names of the ladies who, to her knowledge, were to be at this ball.

When she had finished the catalogue, she expatiated upon the grand preparations which it was said the widow O'Neill, Mr.O'Neill's mother, was making for the supper, and concluded by condoling with Mrs.Hill for her misfortune in not having been invited.

Jenny took her leave to get her dress in readiness: "for," added she, "Mr.O'Neill has engaged me to open the ball in case Phoebe does not go; but I suppose she will cheer up and go, as she has a pair of Limerick gloves as well as the rest of us." There was a silence for some minutes after Jenny's departure, which was broken by Phoebe, who told her mother that, early in the morning, a note had been brought to her, which she had returned unopened, because she knew, from the handwriting of the direction, that it came from Mr.
O'Neill.
We must observe that Phoebe had already told her mother of her meeting with this gentleman at the poor widow's, and of all that had passed between them afterwards.

This openness on her part had softened the heart of Mrs.Hill, who was really inclined to be good-natured, provided people would allow that she had more penetration than any one else in Hereford.

She was, moreover, a good deal piqued and alarmed by the idea that the perfumer's daughter might rival and outshine her own.