They sat over the patterns one day with Mrs. Leighton in attendance. Mabel's choice lay between fifteen different qualities of heliotrope.
"I shall have this," she said one minute, and "No, this" the next.
"Patterns not returned within ten days will be charged for," quoted Jean.
Just then a certain rushing sound of light wheels could be heard. Each girl glanced quickly out of the window. The clipity-clop of a pair of horses might be clearly distinguished; and through the green trees skirting the bottom of the garden, appeared patches of colour.
Two Story Book Girls drove past, Adelaide Maud and Theodora. Theodora was sitting in any kind of costume--what did her costume matter?
Adelaide Maud was in blue.
The girls gazed breathlessly at one another.
"I think you must really now make up your mind," said Mrs. Leighton patiently, whose ears were not attuned so perfectly to distinction in carriage wheels.
Mabel glanced round for support.
"Oh, mummy," said she very sweetly, "I do believe you were right. I shall have blue after all."