Consequences

           Mrs.Chester’sfairwassoveryelegantandselectthatitwasconsideredagreathonorbytheyoungladiesoftheneighborhoodtobeinvitedtotakeatable,andeveryonewasmuchinterestedinthematter.Amywasasked,butJowasnot,whichwasfortunateforallparties,asherelbowsweredecidedlyakimboatthisperiodofherlife,andittookagoodmanyhardknockstoteachherhowtogetoneasily.The‘haughty,uninterestingcreature’wasletseverelyalone,butAmy’stalentandtasteweredulycomplimentedbytheofferofthearttable,andsheexertedherselftoprepareandsecureappropriateandvaluablecontributionstoit.

           Everythingwentonsmoothlytillthedaybeforethefairopened,thenthereoccurredoneofthelittleskirmisheswhichitisalmostimpossibletoavoid,whensomefive-and-twentywomen,oldandyoung,withalltheirprivatepiquesandprejudices,trytoworktogether.

           MayChesterwasratherjealousofAmybecausethelatterwasagreaterfavoritethanherself,andjustatthistimeseveraltriflingcircumstancesoccurredtoincreasethefeeling.Amy’sdaintypen-and-inkworkentirelyeclipsedMay’spaintedvases—thatwasonethorn.ThentheallconqueringTudorhaddancedfourtimeswithAmyatalatepartyandonlyoncewithMay—thatwasthornnumbertwo.