"Well, in all my life, I never did see such beautiful clothes," confessed Mrs. Chandos.
Which statement was no doubt true.
"They must have cost hundreds of pounds."
This was also a fact.
"Oh, my! Oh, my! what advantages you have had, Verona, child, compared with these poor girls," she continued as she flitted about the room in a condition of extraordinary excitement; "you must share your fine feathers with them now. If Dominga here were set off in that blue and white, she would look every bit as well as you; all she wants is to be dressed up in good clothes—eh, Nani?"
"That is so," agreed the elder with her wheezy laugh, "for who can row without water?"
"Now I shall divide some of these things," declared Mrs. Chandos, as she hovered about; "Verona could not wear half of them."
Verona, who had made up her mind never again to mix in society, and had originally brought out this large outfit with the intention of sharing it with her sisters, would nevertheless have preferred to have bestowed her garments to her own liking, and not to stand by passively while her mother distributed her wardrobe. The choicest articles were shamelessly selected for Dominga—for instance, a magnificent white satin gown, a pale blue crêpe de chine, an elaborate lace costume, a mauve and silver tea gown. Then Pussy was endowed with various frocks and hats (Verona helping in the selection), and the possession of a certain pink feather boa had made her completely happy. Verona also chose a pretty chiffon cape, which she spread over her grandmother's ample shoulders. It was a very orgie of millinery, among which Mrs. Chandos hovered, picking out a toque here, a sash there. At last, when the supply had become somewhat low, she said:
"Well, that will do for the girls; I will take these blouses and the pink satin for myself; it will alter, and I will wear it for the Volunteer Ball. Eh, Nani, what do you say?"
"I say that if you wear such a frock you'll be more celebrated than the devil!"