in the cloak
room!!! Creases, creases, nothing but creases! It was a pitiful scene;
mothers afume, daughters in tears, rows of dowagers turning themselves
before the fire, like turkeys on a spit; plaintive pleadings for
flat-irons. When we got upstairs to the ballroom, it was worse than
ever, with the great electric chandelier blazing down, and showing up
every deficiency. And we revolved beneath them looking like so many
rag-bags. I have never seen so many badly-dressed women in my life."

"Serve you right," was Martin's comment. "Sheep! Sheep! Why _will_
you all dress alike? I can never see the fascination of being a replica
of a hundred other women, when one might be a woman by oneself."

Certainly the female portion of the crowd which continually surged in
and out of the great door formed an admirable illustration of Martin's
indictment. Old and young, tall and small, fat and thin, all hobbled
within the same tight folds, and hid their hair beneath enormous hats
which descended on the shoulder, entirely concealing both hair and neck.
Viewed from the front the costume achieved on occasions a not
unbecoming effect, but the back!

"Oh would some power the giftie gie them, To see their backs as others
see them!" chanted Grizel softly, as a distinguished party crossed the
floor at a few yards' distance. She laughed as she spoke, her deep,
gurgling laugh, at the sound of which the colour rose in Martin's cheek.
He looked at her and said quickly:

"Grizel! didn't you want to see the picture gallery? Shall I take you
now?" As he spoke, his expression seemed to take a significance apart
from the words; delicately but unmistakably his eyebrows rose, asking a
secret question, and as delicately Grizel's eyes met his, and signalled
a reply.

Katrine saw, guessed, was in the act of defiantly fighting against the
suggestion, but Grizel was before her.

"Presently. There's plenty of time. Katrine was wishing, Martin, that
you could introduce her to some one who could act as guide, and point
out the celebrities. It's dull for her dragging about with us."

"Of course. Certainly! I saw old Deeds a minute ago. There could be
no one better. I'll bring him along."

Martin dashed off with a haste seldom characteristic of altruistic
enterprises, while Katrine sat rigid on her seat, consumed with anger.

"Us!" That word was the crux of the offence. "Us!" having for its
meaning Martin and Grizel, leaving hers