"Girls, girls!" Adelaide fairly shrieked; "just listen to this! Milly writes—
"'I forgot to say in my last that mamma's maid is putting the finishing touches to my costume, and Gibson will bring it around to-morrow. The dress (purple velvet) is one which mamma wore last summer when she was presented to the Queen. The lace which trims it was made to order from a pattern of her own selection in Brussels. You may keep the crown, for the gems in it are only Rhinestones. Aunt Fanny wore it at a costume ball, and they sparkle like the real thing. Be careful of the lace, for mamma prizes it highly.
'Yours, Milly.
'P. S.—I've coaxed papa to lend you a silver chatelaine, old French repoussé, linked with emeralds, which he keeps in his cabinet of curiosities. It shows finely against the velvet.'"
How we all exclaimed and chattered! "Now what will the Hornets' Nest say to that?"
"Canton flannel ermine indeed!"
"I should like to see them bring on their old mosquito-netting ruff!"
"Real emeralds! A diadem flashing with diamonds!"
"Don't tell them a word about it until Tib dawns on them in all her glory on Wednesday night."
It was hard to keep this resolution, but we did. The Hornets were giggling and whispering among themselves as we marched in to dinner, with all the importance given by the possession of a state secret. The other girls relapsed into silence as we took our seats, and watched us with strange, significant looks.
"I've been looking up the matter in Racinet's work on Costume," remarked Cynthia Vaughn, "and I find you were right, Miss Anton; ruffs did not come in until long after Arthur's reign."
"I would like to consult the book," Emma Jane replied, "unless you can tell me whether chatelaines were worn at that period."