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“Is it possible!”

“That, I believe, is about the truth of the whole matter. I have sifted it pretty closely.”

“Well, I declare! I was at the party, but I saw nothing of this. I remember Mrs. Tarleton’s head-dress, however, very well. It certainly was very beautiful, and has become quite fashionable since.”

“Yes, and is called by some the Tarleton head-dress, from the first wearer of it.”

“This no doubt galls Mrs. Bates severely. They say she is a vain woman.”

“It is more than probable that this circumstance has widened the breach.”

“I must say,” remarked the other lady, “that Mrs. Tarleton did not act well.”

“No, she certainly did not. At the same time, I think Mrs. Bates was served perfectly right for her selfish vanity. It wouldn’t have hurt her at all if there had been two or three head-dresses there of exactly the pattern of hers. But extreme vanity always gets mortified, and in this case I think justly so.”

“Besides, it was very unladylike to insult Mrs. Tarleton in public.”

“Yes, or anywhere else. She should have taken no notice of it whatever. A true lady, under circumstances of this kind, seems perfectly unaware of what has occurred. She shuns, with the utmost carefulness, any appearance of an affront at so trivial a matter, even if she feels it.”

Such was the opinion entertained by the ladies in regard to the misunderstanding, as some others called it, that existed between Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Tarleton. Both were considered to blame, and nearly equally so; but whether the parties really misunderstood their own or each other’s true position will be seen when the truth appears.

Mrs. Bates did receive, as has been stated, a beautiful head-dress from a sister in New York, who had obtained it from a friend in Paris. The style was quite attractive, though neither unbecoming nor showy. Mrs. Bates had her own share of vanity, and wished to appear at a large party soon to take place, in this head-dress, where she knew it must attract attention. Although a little vain, a fault that we can easily excuse in a handsome woman, Mrs. Bates had a high sense of justice and right, and possessed all a lady’s true delicacy of feeling.

The head-dress, after being admired, was laid aside for the occasion refrered to. A few days afterwards, Mrs. Tarleton, an acquaintance, dropped in.

“I have something beautiful to show you,” said Mrs. Bates, after she had chatted awhile with her visitor.

“Indeed! What is it?”

“The sweetest head-dress you ever saw. My sister sent it to me from New York, and she had it direct from a friend in Paris, where it was all the fashion. Mine I believe to be the only one yet received in the city, and I mean to wear it at Mrs. Liston’s party.

“Do let me see it,” said Mrs. Tarleton, all alive with expectation. She had an extravagant love of dress, and was an exceedingly vain woman.

The head-dress was produced. Mrs. Tarleton lifted her hands and eyes.

“The loveliest thing I ever saw! Let me try it on,” she said, laying off her bonnet and taking the head-dress from the hands of Mrs. Bates. “Oh, it is sweet! I never looked so well in anything in my life,” she continued, viewing herself in the glass. “I wish I could beg it from you; but that I havn’t the heart to do.”

Mrs. Bates smiled and shook her head, but made no reply.

“Here, you put it on, and let me see how you look in it,” went on Mrs. Tarleton, removing the cap from her own head and placing it upon that of her friend. “Beautiful! How well it becomes you! you must let me have the pattern. We can wear them together at the party. Two will attract more attention than one.”

“I am sorry to deny you,” replied Mrs. Bates, “but I think I shall have to be alone in my glory this time.”