‘And then a muslin fichu coming over here.’
‘How perfectly sweet!’ cried Maude.
‘And the waist cut high, and ruffles at the sleeves. And, of course, a picture hat—you know what I mean—with a curling ostrich feather.’
‘Powdered hair, of course?’ said Mrs. Beecher.
‘Powdered in ringlets.’
‘It will suit you admirably—beautifully. You are tall enough to carry it off, and you have the figure also. How I wish I was equally certain about my own!’
‘What had you thought of, dear?’
‘Well, I had some idea about “Ophelia.” Do you think that it would do?’
‘Certainly. Had you worked it out at all?’
‘Well, my dear,’ said Mrs. Beecher, relapsing into her pleasant confidential manner. ‘I had some views, but, of course, I should be so glad to have your opinion about it. I only saw Hamlet once, and the lady was dressed in white, with a gauzy light nun’s-veiling over it. I thought that with white pongee silk as an under-dress, and then some sort of delicate—’