is sure whether it is true or not, and
to this day the generality of people are inclined to believe that it
was her supernatural beauty that dragged Marc Antony to the dust at her
feet."

Aimee's face was more nearly perfect than Dolly's; Mollie's was more
imposing, child as she was; 'Toi-nette threw her far into the shade in
the matter of statuesque splendor; but still it was Dolly who did all
the difficult things, and had divers tragic adventures with questionable
adorers, whose name was legion, and who were a continual source of
rejoicing and entertainment to the family.

Having tossed hat and shawl on to the table, among the manuscript music,
paint-brushes, and palettes, this young person slipped into the most
comfortable chair near the fire, and, having waited for the rest to
seat themselves, proceeded to open the council. Mollie, who was sixteen,
large, fair, beautiful, and not as tidy as she might have been, dropped
into a not ungraceful position at her feet. Aimee, who was a little
maiden with a tender, _spirituelle_ face, and all the forethought of
the family, sat near, with some grave perplexity in her expression.
'Toinette and Tod, _posed_ in the low nursery-chair,--the girl's firm,
white arm flung around the child,--swung lightly to and fro, fit models
for an artist.

"You would make a first-class picture,--the lot of you," commented Phil,
amicably.

"Never mind the picture," said Mollie, drawing her disreputable slippers
up under her wrapper. "We want to hear how Dolly thinks of going to the
Bilberrys'. Oh, Dolly, how heavenly it would be if you had a
turquoise-blue sat--"

"Heavenly!" interrupted Dolly. "I should think so. Particularly
celestial for Lady Augusta, who looks mahogany-colored in it, and
peculiarly celestial for a poor relation from Vagabondia. It would be
as much as my reputation was worth. She would never forgive me. You must
learn discretion, Mollie."

"There is some consolation in knowing you can't get it," said 'Toinette.
"You won't be obliged to deny yourself or be indiscreet. But what _are_
you going to wear, Dolly?"

"That is for the council to decide," Dolly returned. "First, we must
settle on what we want, and then we must settle on the way to get it."

"Other people go the other way about it," said Aimee.

"If we were only rich!" said Mollie.

"But it is a most glaringly patent fact that we are not," said Dolly.
"There is one thing certain, however,--it must be white."