Four Girls at Chautauqua | Page 7

patience that the wind shall blow in the exact
direction where it can do her the most harm. Going to Chautauqua with
the influences that will surround her, with Miss Erskine and Miss
Wilbur on the one side, and Eurie Mitchell on the other, will be the
very best thing that Satan can do next for her, and he doubtless knows
it."
"I do not know Miss Wilbur at all. Is she also one of your flock?"
Dr. Dennis' face was dark and sad.
"She is an infidel," he said, decidedly. "She does not call herself such;
she wouldn't like to be known as such, because it would be likely to
affect her position in the school. But the name is rightly hers, and she
would do less harm in the world if she owned it."
"It is an extraordinary representation, I declare," Mr. Harrison said, a
little startled. "I have been half inclined to be envious of you because

you were to hear so directly from the meeting, but I believe on the
whole I shall be quite as well off without any delegates as you will with
them."
"Better, decidedly. I am distressed at the whole thing. It will result
disastrously for them all, you mark my words."
And having settled the affairs at Chautauqua, apparently beyond all
repeal, the brethren shook hands again and went to their studies.
Meantime the express train was giving occasional premonitory snorts,
and the four young ladies who had been so thoroughly discussed were
in various stages of unrest, waiting for the moment of departure. A
looker-on would have been able to come to marked conclusions
concerning the different characters of these young ladies, simply from
their manner of dress. Flossy Shipley was the one to look at first. That
was a very good description of her usual style--something to look at.
She had chosen for her traveling dress a pale, lavender cashmere, of
that delightful shade that resents a drop of water as promptly as a drop
of oil. It was trimmed with a contrasting shade of silk, and trimmed
profusely; yards of gathered trimming, headed by yards of flat pleating,
and that in turn headed by yards of folds. The dainty sack and hat, and
the four-buttoned gloves, were as faultless as to fit and as delicate in
color as the dress. In short, Miss Flossy looked as though she might be
ready for an evening concert. Moreover, she felt as if she were, or at
least she had an uncomfortable consciousness as to clothes. She kept a
nervous lookout for the lower flounce whenever the crowd of people
surged her way, and brushed vigorously at the arm of the seat she had
chosen ere she dared to rest her arm on it. Evidently she had given
herself over to the martyrdom of thinking of and caring for clothes
during this journey, and I don't know whether there is a greater
martyrdom made out of a trifle than that. It was one of Flossy's
besetting sins, this arraying herself in glory, and making wrinkles in her
face in the vain attempt to keep so. Not that she was particularly
anxious to save the wear and tear, only she hated to look spotted and
wrinkled, and she could never seem to learn the simple lesson of
wearing the things best suited to the occasion.

Standing near her, toying carelessly with her traveling fan, and looking
as though the thought of dress was something that had passed utterly by
her, was Miss Erskine. She looked like one of those ladies whom
gentlemen in their wisdom are always selecting, pointing them out as
models. "So tasteful and appropriate, and withal so simple in their
dress."
Let me tell you about her dress. It was plain dark brown, precisely the
shade of brown that the fashion of the season required. It was of soft,
lusterless silk. It was very simply made, almost severely plain, as Miss
Erskine knew became a traveler. In fact, elegant simplicity marked her
entire toilet, everything matched, everything was fresh and spotless,
and arranged with an eye to remaining so. I am willing to concede that
she was faultlessly dressed, and it was a real pleasure to see her thus.
But I am also anxious to have the gentlemen understand that that same
simple attire represented more money than two wardrobes like Flossy
Shipley's. It is often so with those delightfully plain and simple dresses
that attract so many people. In fact, it might as well be admitted, since
we are on that subject, that elegant simplicity is sometimes a very
expensive article.
Eurie Mitchell was neither particularly elegant nor noted for simplicity,
yet her dress was not without character. We see enough of that sort to
become familiar with what it