ure and the auburn hair
under the black velvet brim as if she was looking at somebody else. May
took off the hat and placed it on the bed by the dark brown silk.

"Now, you're complete," she said. "Quite complete;" but she looked out
of her grey eyes at something far away, and did not see Gwendolen.

"If only I had a nice fur!" exclaimed the girl. "Mine is old, and it's
the wrong shape, of course," she went on confidentially. She found
herself suddenly desirous of making a life-long friend of Mrs. Dashwood.
In spite of her age and the fact that she was very clever and all that,
and that the Warden had begun by taking too much notice of her, Mrs.
Dashwood was nice. Gwen wanted at that moment to "tell her everything,"
all about the "proposal," and see what she thought about it!

Gwen's emotions came and went in little spurts, and they were very
absorbing for the moment.

"Don't be ashamed of yours," said Mrs. Dashwood, and as she spoke she
went towards the door. "I can't say I admire the sisterhood of women who
spend their pence on sham or their guineas on real fur and jewellery
just now."

Gwen stared. She was not quite sure what the remark really meant--the
word "sisterhood" confused her.

"If I were you," said Mrs. Dashwood, smiling, "I should begin to dress;
we are to be ready at one punctually."

"Oh, thanks so much," said Gwen. "I know I take an age. I always do,"
she laughed.

As soon as Mrs. Dashwood had gone Gwen found it necessary to sit down
and think whether she really liked Mrs. Dashwood so very much, or
whether she only "just liked her," and this subject brought her back to
the letter and the Warden, and all her lost opportunities! Gwen was
startled by a knock at the door which she knew was produced by the
knuckles of Lady Dashwood's maid.

"Oh, Mademoiselle!" cried Louise. "You have not commenced, and Madame is
ready."

"The brown one," exclaimed Gwen, as Louise rushed towards the bed.

Louise fell upon the bed like a wild beast and began dressing Gwen with
positive ferocity, protesting all the time in tones of physical agony
mingled with moral indignation, her astonishment at Mademoiselle's
indifference to the desires of Madame.

"I didn't know it was so late," said Gwen, who was not accustomed to
such freedom from a servant.

More exclamations from Louise, who was hooking and buttoning and pulling
and pushing like a fury.

"Well, leave off talking," said Gwen, looking very hot, "and don'