rilliant kimono, while Freda brushed
and rolled busily, and Miss Slater polished and clipped. Then ensued a
period of intense concentration at the mirror, when the sparkling pins
were put in her hair, and the little pearl earrings screwed into her
ears, and when much rubbing and greasing and powdering went on, and even
some slight retouching of the innocent, red young mouth.

"Shall I?" Norma asked, dubiously eyeing the effect of a trace of rouge.

"Don't be an idiot, Miss Sheridan!" Miss Slater said. "You've got a
lovely colour, and it's a shame to touch it!"

"Oh, but I think I look so pale!" Norma argued.

"Well, when you've had your dinner----Now, you take my advice, my dear,
and let your face alone."

"Well, all the girls do it," Norma declared, catching up the little
girdle, and not unwilling to be over-persuaded. She gave an actual
shiver of delight as Freda slipped the gown over her head.

It fell into shape about her, a miracle of cut and fit. The little
satiny underskirt was heavy with beads, the misty cloud of gauze that
floated above it was hardly heavy enough to hold its own embroideries.
Little beaded straps held it to the flawless shoulders, and Norma made
her two attendants laugh as she jerked and fussed at the gold lace and
tiny satin roses that crossed her breast.

"Leave it alone!" Miss Slater said.

"Oh, but it seems so low!"

"Well, you may be very sure it isn't--Lenz knows what he's doing when he
makes a gown.... Here, now, what are you going to do with your flowers?"

"Oh, I'm going to wrap the paper round them, and carry them until just
before I get to Aunt Annie's. Wouldn't you?"

"Wouldn't I? I like that!" said Miss Slater, settling her eyeglasses on
the bridge of her nose with a finger and thumb. Norma had a momentary
pang of sympathy; she could never have been made to understand that a
happy barnyard duck may look contentedly up from her pool at the peacock
trailing his plumes on the wall.

"Norma--for the love of Allah!" Chris shouted from downstairs.

Norma gave a panicky laugh, snatched her fan, wrap, and flowers, and
fled joyously down to be criticized and praised. On the whole, they were
pleased with her: Alice, seizing a chance for an aside to tell her not
to worry about the lowness of the gown, that it was absolutely correct
she might be very sure, and Mrs. Melrose quite tremulously delighted
with her ward. Chris did not say much until a few minutes before they
planned t