"What's the harm, I'd like to know; who's got a better right to talk about dress than us women?" asked Mrs. Stout, pertly.
"But is the subject appropriate at this time?" retorted Miss Sawyer.
"It's always appropriate," replied Mrs. Stout. "A woman can't be happy unless she's well dressed, or thinks she is, any more'n a man can be good-natured on an empty stomach."
"Which proves the inferiority of the other sex," said Mrs. Tweedie.
"Ump! I don't know about that," replied Mrs. Stout. "We make just as big fools of ourselves about dressin' as the men do about eatin' and drinkin'."
"Indeed, and is it not commendable to appear as well as one can?" queried Mrs. Tweedie.
"That's all right," retorted Mrs. Stout, "if it ended there, but it don't. Most women folks would wear a smile, a pink ribbon, and rings on their toes if the fashion papers said it was proper, and then wonder why the men stared at 'em."
"Because some women err in such matters, are we—" remonstrated Mrs. Jones, mildly, but Fanny interrupted her.
"Oh," she exclaimed, in her explosive manner, "I'm in the greatest luck! Miss Wallace is going to let me take her graduation cap and gown. I've tried them on and the effect is just killing."
"You are very fortunate, and how is Miss Wallace?" asked Mrs. Blake.