"How perfectly splendid!"
"But that was only a lucky chance ... that she got that to do. She mostly does children's dresses and cloaks and things like that."
"But she's not a dressmaker, is she?"
"A dressmaker? I should think not indeed! They're sent up, all ready to work, from the biggest shops in town."
"I say!—she must be clever."
"She is; she can do anything. She makes the patterns up all out of her own head. "—And filled with pride in Mother's accomplishments and Lilith's appreciation of them, Laura fell asleep that night without a qualm.
It was the next evening. Several of the boarders who had finished preparing their lessons were loitering in the dining-hall, Laura and Lilith among them. In the group was a girl called Lucy, young but very saucy; for she lived at Toorak, and came of one of the best families in Melbourne. She was not as old as Laura by two years, but was already feared and respected for the fine scorn of her opinions.
Lilith Gordon had bragged: "My uncle's promised me a gold watch and chain when I pass matric."
Lucy of Toorak laughed: her nose came down, and her mouth went up at the corners. "Do you think you ever will?"
"G. o. k. and He won't tell. But I'll probably get the watch all the same."