And when at last they had decided about roses and arranged about the lessons, Adelaide Maud thought she must immediately buy a hat.
"I quite forgot that I wanted a hat," she said gravely.
They went to one of the best shops, and sat in three chairs, with Adelaide Maud surrounded by mirrors. Tall girls sailed up like swans and laid a hat on her bright hair and walked away again. Adelaide Maud turned and twisted and looked lovely in about a dozen different hats. After looking specially superb in one, she would say. "Take that one away, I don't like it at all."
Occasionally the swans would put on a hat and sail about in order to show the effect. Then Adelaide Maud would look specially languid and appear more dissatisfied than ever. At last she fixed on one which contained what she called "a dead seagull."
"Why you spoil that pretty hat with a dead bird, I can't think," she exclaimed to the attendant. "Look at its little feet turned up."
Then, "You must take this bird out, and give me flowers."
She began pinning on her own hat again. In a second the bird was gone, and the swanlike personages sailing over the grey white carpet, brought charming bunches of which they tried the effect "for modom."
"Oh, do get heliotrope," said Mabel. "It's so gorgeous with your hair."
Adelaide Maud swung round.
"And I've been making up my mind to white for the last half-hour. How can you, Mabel!"