Marmee-isms ~#25~ God Looks at the Heart

[Belle said] "Now do let me please myself by dressing you up in style . . . "

"You are very kind, but I don't mind my old dress, if you don't; it does well enough for a little girl like me," said Meg.

On the Thursday evening, Belle shut herself up with her maid; and, between them, they turned Meg into a fine lady . . .

"Mademoiselle is charmante, tres jolie, is she not?" cried Hortense, clasping her hands in an affected rapture.

"Come and show yourself," said Miss Belle, leading the way to the room where the others were waiting.

As Meg went rustling after, with her long skirts trailing, her ear-rings tinkling, her curls waving, and her heart beating . . . Margaret got safely down stairs, and sailed into the drawing-rooms, where the Moffats and a few early guests were assembled. She very soon discovered that there is a charm about fine clothes which attracts a certain class of people, and secures their respect. Several young ladies, who had taken no notice of her before, were very affectionate all of a sudden; several young gentlemen, who had only stared at her at the other party, now not only stared, but asked to be introduced, and said all manner of foolish but agreeable things to her . . .

The "queer feeling" did not pass away, but she imagined herself acting the new part of fine lady, and so got on pretty well, though the tight dress gave her a side-ache, the train kept getting under her feet, and she was in constant fear lest her ear-rings should fly off and get lost or broken . . .

She went and stood at a quiet window, to cool her cheeks, for the tight dress gave her an uncomfortably brilliant color. As she stood there, major Lincoln passed by; and, a minute after she heard him saying to his mother, ~

"They are making a fool of that little girl; I wanted you to see her, but they have spoilt her entirely; she's nothing but a doll, tonight."

"Oh, dear!" sighed Meg; "I wish I'd been sensible, and worn my own things; then I should not have disgusted other people, or felt so uncomfortable and ashamed of myself."

Little Women ~ Ch. 9

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"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ~I Samuel 16:7(b)

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><