"We have put on the pale blue silks that we wore at Isabella's wedding; that, however, was Georgiana's thought," continued Helen; "she said it would be impossible to go to church in our pink ginghams."
Louisa could not but feel how much she must be be loved by her sisters, before they would have undertaken what, to girls of their secluded and obedient habits, was indeed an enterprise; she only hoped that it was not very wrong to be as glad as she was of their presence and their affection. The business of the toilette now proceeded rapidly, only interrupted by Mrs. Gooch once looking in to see how they were proceeding, and, it must be confessed, also, to show herself. Her dress was entirely new for the occasion; and it was of "excelling splendour." She had a jonquil silk pelisse, a bonnet of the same colour, with a bird of paradise plume, looking very much like an illuminated butterfly. But Mr. Gooch liked bright colours; and, without going the length of kindling yellow, most gentlemen like them too. I think it is the mere preference of personal vanity, on the principle of contrast, their taste is dictated by self-consideration; a woman in sombre hues does not sufficiently throw out their own dark dress.
When Louisa and her sisters descended to the drawing-room, where Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were the only guests, a murmur of applause ran round the little circle. Louisa looked very lovely in her white muslin dress and drawn white silk capote, only lighted up by the golden and glossy ringlets. The pleasant surprise
