very free, I'm told, and whose style of
dressing is peculiar, the least you say! Mr. Gootch always did favor
dark-complexioned people, and if that letter don't come to-morrow--

[_Getting excited, she again pulls_ GEORGIANA'S _hair._

GEORGIANA. Ouch! [_Laughing, holds up her hand, and catches her hair to
ward off another pull._] Be careful!

BELLA. Excuse me! in my art, there's no use talking, you oughtn't let
your mind wander from the subject in hand--does your head feel better?

GEORGIANA. I don't know, Bella, if it does or not! Your treatment is
very heroic.

BELLA. [_Spraying her hair._] You don't feel worried about something
happening to them way out there, do you, Miss Georgiana?

GEORGIANA. I daren't think of it. Oh, Bella, I've had lots of trouble
to-day, and I've a serious time ahead of me--but all the same I am such
a happy woman. [_Turning to look at_ BELLA, _she disarranges her hair,
much to_ BELLA'S _disapproval._] Do you love Mr. Gootch tremendously,
Bella?

BELLA. Why, love isn't the word! my feeling for Mr. Gootch is a positive
worship. When I get to thinking of him in the underground I always go
by my station, sometimes two.

GEORGIANA. Be grateful for your love, Bella; it's a wonderful thing.

BELLA. [_Finishing the dressing of the hair._] You know I've just done
Mrs. Wishings, she puts too much on!

GEORGIANA. Does she rouge?

BELLA. No, hair. I don't mind a switch or two for foundation, and a
couple of puffs for ornament, with a tight curl or two for
style,--especially if you've got one of those new undilated fronts, but
I think that's all you can expect to have any hair dresser make look as
if it growed there. There! How's that?

[_Puts hairpin in_ GEORGIANA'S _hair._

GEORGIANA. [_Holding up_ DICK'S _photograph._] How's that, Dick--is it
all right?

BELLA. [_Delighted._] Ain't that a cute idea?

GEORGIANA. We both trust you, Bella, to make me all right.

BELLA. What ornaments?

[_Taking off the apron, she walks around to Right of the table._

GEORGIANA. Would you wear any?

BELLA. Oh, yes, for such an occasion! Of course, for maidens only
feathers is correct; for wives and widows, tiaras and feathers.

[_Putting away her things._ MRS. CARLEY _enters in a flurry of
excitement, superbly dressed, and too youthfully._

MRS. CARLEY. Here I am; I've hurried so I don't feel half dressed.

GEORGIANA. [_Smiling._] That's almost the way you _look_, mother.

MRS. CARLEY. Well, I