Elfreda, however, with a woman’s understanding of the case did her best to soften it. She was the soul of tact and she was quite charming to Miss Cass.
“Please choose the one you like best for this evening.” Her winning grace brought back to poor Girlie’s mind their never-to-be-forgotten journey from London.
Girlie declined the offer with tears.
“I—I c-couldn’t think of going down to dinner this evening,” she said with a little shiver.
“But, of course, you are going down to dinner.” Napoleon—Hannibal—Etc.; the sinister cycle of their first meeting was being enacted again.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t—I really couldn’t—I could never face them all!”
“But of course you will.” Each slow syllable of the Evil Genius seemed to burn itself in Girlie’s heart. “If you don’t play up now you will spoil everything.”
Girlie shuddered. She fought against her tears. “I—I am ruined and disgraced. I—I don’t know whatever will become of me.”
“I don’t either,” Elfreda grimly agreed, “if you let go now.”
With the power of will that made her so formidable Elfreda ordered Pikey to lay out Madame Lucile’s new pink dress for Miss Cass.