"You are to have a heliotrope satin," Mariana declared, in a burst of generosity, "and I am to have one that is all amber and dull gold."
As she stood in the centre of the costumer's show-room, surveying the lustrous folds of heliotrope and amber, her eyes shone with pleasure. Miss Ramsey protested faintly.
"My dear Mariana, I beg of you," she said, "leave me the black silk. Colors confuse me."
But Mariana was obdurate.
"No," she replied, "I have selected it. We will go to the milliner's."
They drove to the milliner's, where they remained for a couple of hours—Mariana finding difficulty in deciding upon a bonnet. When the choice was made Miss Ramsey was threatened with hysteria, and they went home.
"I quite forgot," said Mariana, as they entered the house, a small brown-stone one on Fifty-seventh Street, which she had leased—"I quite forgot that I was to have sat for Mr. Nevins this morning. How provoking I am! But it is too late now, and, besides, I am looking a fright. My dear, good Miss Ramsey, I do wish you would express yourself more about the purchases I make."
"I did express myself," protested Miss Ramsey, looking jaded and harassed. "I expressed myself against that heliotrope satin, but it did no good."
"But that was absurd," responded Mariana. "I do hope luncheon is ready," and she went up-stairs to change her dress.
After luncheon Mrs. Ryder called, and Mariana went in to see her, a flush of pleasure suffusing her face.