s barriers, so I think I might as well spend my
time writing to you, as you have been hurling reproaches at me for my
silence. I couldn't possibly attempt letters while Betty was here, for
we only had a fortnight, and I didn't get through half what I wanted to
say. We enjoyed having her immensely, she's a perfect dear, and very
pretty when she takes enough trouble, which isn't by any means always
the case. I read her a severe lecture on the subject, and retrimmed her
blue hat. I'm sure you'll think it improved. Talking of hats--I can't
understand why I am not a lunatic, after all I've experienced with my
clothes this spring! Agatha and I went to a tailor's at Hertford and
ordered coats and skirts for morning wear. She wasn't in a hurry for
hers, but I was simply panting for mine to take to the Goodmans' the
next Wednesday, so it was arranged that he should rush on with mine, and
that I should go over for a fitting on Monday. My dear, on Monday I was
a wreck!--toothache in every joint, chattering with cold, and the rain
descended in floods. I ploughed to the station in a sort of dismal, it-
is-my-duty-and-I-must kind of stupor; sat in the train with Mrs Ellis,
who yelled at me the whole time about the Coal Club, and Mary Jane's
little Emma's mumps; staggered along the roads to the tailor's shop, and
sat shuddering in his nasty little room with my feet on a slippery
oilcloth as cold as ice.

After about twenty minutes (it seemed three hours and a half)--he came
in with a coat over his arm! _Agatha's coat_! I nearly swooned! ...
"Now you don't say so--really! Your sister's? And I made so sure it
was yours! Isn't that curious, now? I may say I have been in the
tailoring trade, man and boy, for a matter of twenty years, an' I never
knew such a thing to occur before! Of course it wouldn't be any use
saying I could make another by Wednesday, for I should only disappoint,
but if Miss Hagatha was to run over, such a thing as this hafternoon,
she could have 'er's 'ome in the place of yours." ... I got home
_somehow_, I don't know how, for my mind was a blank, fell into bed, and
lay prostrate until the next day, when hope revived once more. If the
worst came to the worst, I was sure of a new voile dress which Miss
Green was making, and the old coat and skirt would do very well for the
mornings. The voile dress promised to be charming, for she really makes
very well when she likes; so I felt restored to equanimity