“You certainly are a fool,” said Julia.  Fanny had been told that often, so she did not reply, but hastened downstairs and was soon in the street.  As she turned the corner she could see the windows of her room, and the whole length of the balcony on that side of the building.  Looking in that direction she saw Dr. Lacey sitting out on the balcony and so near her window that he must have heard all the conversation between herself and her sister!  She thought, “Well, he of course thinks me a silly little dunce; but I do like our blacks, and if I ever own any of them, I’ll first teach them to read and then send them all to Liberia.”  Full of this new plan, she forgot Dr. Lacey and ere she was aware of it had reached the store.  She procured the articles she wished for, and returning to Mrs. Crane’s, gave them to Ike, who was soon on his way home.

At supper that evening the conversation turned upon Fanny Kemble and the expected entertainment.  “I suppose you are all going,” said Mrs. Crane to her boarders.  They all answered in the affirmative except Fanny, who was about to reply, when Dr. Lacey interrupted her by saying, “Miss Fanny, will you allow me to accompany you to hear Mrs. Butler this evening?”

Fanny was amazed.  Was it possible that the elegant Dr. Lacey had honored her with an invitation to accompany him to the literary treat!  She was too much surprised to answer him, until he said, “Do not refuse me, Miss Fanny, for I am resolved to have you go!” She then gracefully accepted his polite invitation, and at the same time glancing toward Julia and Mrs. Carrington, she saw that the former frowned darkly, while the latter looked displeased.  This dampened her happiness somewhat, and as soon as supper was over she hurried to her room.

Mrs. Carrington was a gay, fashionable woman, and was just as willing to receive attention from unmarried gentlemen now as she had been in her girlish days.  Her husband was an officer in the United States army and was absent a great part of the time, but she had never cared much for him, so she managed to pass the time of his absence very happily in flirting with every handsome wealthy young gentleman who came in her way.  When Dr. Lacey appeared, she immediately appropriated him to herself.  ’Tis true, she somewhat feared Julia might become a rival, but of the modest, unassuming little Fanny, she had never once thought, and was greatly surprised when Dr. Lacey offered to escort her to the reading.  She had resolved on having his company herself, and when she saw the frown on Julia’s face, she flattered herself that she could yet prevent Fanny’s going.

Accordingly, after supper, she asked Julia to go with her for a moment to her room.  Julia had become perfectly charmed with the fascinating manners of Mrs. Carrington, so she cheerfully assented, and the two proceeded together to her richly furnished apartments.  When there, Mrs. Carrington said, “Miss Middleton, do you not think your sister too young to accept the attentions of any gentleman, at least one who is so much of a stranger to the family?”