turned from the glass in Mrs. Gardiner's dressing room after
a prolonged prink.

"I know I shall forget. If you see me doing anything wrong,
just remind me by a wink, will you?" returned Jo, giving her
collar a twitch and her head a hasty brush.

"No, winking isn't ladylike. I'll lift my eyebrows if any
thing is wrong, and nod if you are all right. Now hold your
shoulder straight, and take short steps, and don't shake hands if
you are introduced to anyone. It isn't the thing."

"How do you learn all the proper ways? I never can. Isn't
that music gay?"

Down they went, feeling a trifle timid, for they seldom went
to parties, and informal as this little gathering was, it was an
event to them. Mrs. Gardiner, a stately old lady, greeted them
kindly and handed them over to the eldest of her six daughters.
Meg knew Sallie and was at her ease very soon, but Jo, who didn't
care much for girls or girlish gossip, stood about, with her back
carefully against the wall, and felt as much out of place as a
colt in a flower garden. Half a dozen jovial lads were talking
about skates in another part of the room, and she longed to go
and join them, for skating was one of the joys of her life. She
telegraphed her wish to Meg, but the eyebrows went up so alarmingly
that she dared not stir. No one came to talk to her, and one by
one the group dwindled away till she was left alone. She could