"Well, I think now I should say the violet, ma'am."
"Should you?" Mrs. Darling mused, with a finger against her lip. "But I look less well in it. Surely I had rather look pretty myself than have my dress look pretty, hadn't I? Give me the black and white, and hurry. Mr. Goodhue will be here in a second. Bonnet!" she burst forth, in quite another tone. "You trying creature! Didn't I tell you to put a draw-string through that lace? Didn't I tell you? Where are your ears? Where are your senses? What on earth do you spend your time thinking about, I should like to know, anyway? I wouldn't wear that thing as it is, not for—not for—Oh, I am tired of living surrounded by fools! Take it away—take it away! Bring the violet!"
At last she was encased in the fluffy violet crape, and at sight of the sweet picture she made in the mirror her brow cleared a little; she looked baby-eyed and angelic again, with her wavy hair meekly parted in the middle. While she looked at herself she let Bonnet have one of her arms to button the long glove.
"Ouch! Go softly; you pinch!" she murmured.
Bonnet changed her method with the silver hook, adjusted it anew, and pulled at it ever so softly.
"Ouch! You pinch me!" said Mrs. Darling, a little louder.
Bonnet stopped short, and looked helplessly at the glove, that could not be made to meet without strain over the plump white wrist. After a breathing-while, with stealthy gentleness, again she fitted the silver loop over the button, and, with a devout inward appeal to Heaven, tried to induce it through the button-hole. She had almost succeeded when Mrs. Darling screamed, "Ouch, ouch, ouch! You pinch like anything! I am black and blue!" And tearing her arm from the quaking servant, began fidgeting with the button herself, soon pulling it off.
"SHE LET BONNET HAVE ONE OF HER ARMS"
"Bonnet, how many times must I tell you to sew the buttons fast on my gloves before you give them me to put on?" she asked, severely. "No, they were not!" she stormed, and peeled off the glove, throwing it far from her, inside out.