“If it is convenient, I would like to have you try it on now, ma’am, so that I may make any alterations that may be necessary before I leave.”
“But I——” began the wondering Palma, when she was suddenly interrupted by the dressmaker exclaiming:
“Oh! I beg your pardon! I forgot!” And she handed a note addressed to Mrs. Cleve Stuart.
Palma took it in perplexity, opened it, and read:
“Beauty to the beautiful! To Palma Stuart, with the true love of Augusta Walling.”
Palma was touched, melted, delighted all at once. She had never had, nor ever expected to have, so superb a dress. She was but a child in some things. She could not speak for surprise, gratitude and embarrassment.
But the matter-of-fact young woman from the suit department of Lovelace & Silkman’s went on to say:
“We were very sorry that we had not a ruby velvet made up, but the lady who gave us your order said that there would be no time to make up one, and she selected this; and I really think, madam, that this shade of mazarine blue will be quite as becoming to your brunette style as garnet or ruby.”
“It is beautiful! It could not be more beautiful!” exclaimed Palma.
“Will you try it on now?”