Lady E. Absolutely necessary. To be different from the rest of the world, we must now revert to nature: Make haste, or you have so much to undo, you will be left behind.
Miss Als. I dare say so. But who can vulgarize all at once? What will the French say?
Lady E. Oh, we shall have a new treaty for the interchange of fashions and follies, and then say, they will complain, as they do of other treaties, that we out manufactured them.
Miss Als. Fashions and follies! O what a charming contention!
Lady E. Yes, and one, thank Heaven, so perfectly well understood on both sides, that no counter declaration will be wanted to explain it.
Miss Als. [With an affected drop of her Lip in her Laugh.] He! he! he! he! he! he!
Lady E. My dear Miss Alscrip, what are you doing? I must correct you as I love you. Sure you must have observed the drop of the under lip is exploded since Lady Simpermode broke a tooth—[Sets her Mouth affectedly.]—I am preparing the cast of the lips for the ensuing winter——thus—It is to be called the Paphian mimp.
Miss Als. [Imitating.] I swear I think it pretty—I must try to get it.
Lady E. Nothing so easy. It is done by one cabalistical word, like a metamorphosis in the fairy tales. You have only, when before your glass, to keep pronouncing to yourself nimini-pimini—the lips cannot fail taking their plie.