ternally. "Justine--I wish
you'd tell me! You say you hate the life you're leading now--but isn't
there somebody who might----?"

"Give me another, with lace dresses in it?" Justine's slight shrug might
have seemed theatrical, had it not been a part of the ceaseless dramatic
play of her flexible person. "There might be, perhaps...only I'm not
sure--" She broke off whimsically.

"Not sure of what?"

"That this kind of dress might not always be a little tight on the
shoulders."

"Tight on the shoulders? What do you mean, Justine? My clothes simply
_hang_ on you!"

"Oh, Effie dear, don't you remember the fable of the wings under the
skin, that sprout when one meets a pair of kindred shoulders?" And, as
Mrs. Dressel bent on her a brow of unenlightenment--"Well, it doesn't
matter: I only meant that I've always been afraid good clothes might
keep my wings from sprouting!" She turned back to the glass, giving
herself a last light touch such as she had bestowed on the roses.

"And that reminds me," she continued--"how about Mr. Amherst's wings?"

"John Amherst?" Mrs. Dressel brightened into immediate attention. "Why,
do you know him?"

"Not as the owner of the Westmore Mills; but I came across him as their
assistant manager three years ago, at the Hope Hospital, and he was
starting a very promising pair then. I wonder if they're doing as well
under his new coat."

"I'm not sure that I understand you when you talk poetry," said Mrs.
Dressel with less interest; "but personally I can't say I like John
Amherst--and he is certainly not worthy of such a lovely woman as Mrs.
Westmore. Of course she would never let any one see that she's not
perfectly happy; but I'm told he has given them all a great deal of
trouble by interfering in the management of the mills, and his manner is
so cold and sarcastic--the truth is, I suppose he's never quite at ease
in society. _Her_ family have never been really reconciled to the
marriage; and Westy Gaines says----"

"Ah, Westy Gaines _would_," Justine interposed lightly. "But if Mrs.
Amherst is really the Bessy Langhope I used to know it must be rather a
struggle for the wings!"

Mrs. Dressel's flagging interest settled on the one glimpse of fact in
this statement. "It's such a coincidence that you should have known her
too! Was she always so perfectly fascinating? I wish I knew how she
gives that look to her hair!"

Justine gathered up the lace sunshade and long gloves which her fri