`` If you are going to town I shall stay home , '' said Louisa in a cold , ominous tone that almost made Mary Isabel quake . If it had not been for that reassuring crackle of Tom 's letter I fear Mary Isabel would have given in . `` This house ca n't be left alone . If you go , I 'll stay . '' Louisa honestly thought that would bring the rebel to terms . Mary Isabel had never gone to town alone in her life . Louisa did not believe she would dare to go . But Mary Isabel did not quail . Defiance was not so hard after all , once you had begun . Mary Isabel went to town and she went alone . She spent the whole delightful day in the shops , unhampered by Louisa 's scorn and criticism in her examination of all the pretty things displayed . She selected a hat she felt sure Tom would like -- a pretty crumpled grey straw with forget-me-nots and ribbons . Then she bought a grey silk of a lovely silvery shade . When she got back home she unwrapped her packages and showed her purchases to Louisa . But Louisa neither looked at them nor spoke to Mary Isabel . Mary Isabel tossed her head and went to her own room . Her draught of freedom had stimulated her , and she did not mind Louisa 's attitude half as much as she would have expected . She read Tom 's letter over again to fortify herself and then she dressed her hair in a fashion she had seen that day in town and pulled out all the little curls on her forehead . The next day she took the silver-grey silk to the Latimer dressmaker and picked out a fashionable design for it . When the silk dress came home , Louisa , who had thawed out somewhat in the meantime , unbent sufficiently to remark that it fitted very well .
`` I am going XXXXX wear it to the induction tomorrow , '' Mary Isabel said , boldly to all appearances , quakingly in reality .
If after as by for of on over to with