Kitty had taken immense pains with her attire on this auspicious occasion, and she was equally careful that the Dodds and Sophia Marshall should not outshine her. The Dodds were allowed by their affectionate parents to spend any amount of money they liked upon dress; but, unluckily for them, they had money without taste. When Kitty was in a good humour she took pains with their toilets, taking good care whenever she did so to get them to present her with a frock or a ribbon or a new bauble for her trouble. The girls were quite willing to do this, for she really attracted them immensely. On this special day they were astonished to see Kitty making herself so smart.
“We had better put on our best frocks too,” said Anne, after looking for a minute at her idol.
“Oh, I don’t think so at all,” replied Kitty. “You’ll do absolutely in those old dowds; but, let me see—perhaps not. You might put on your green frocks.”
“But, Kitty, you said the green frocks made shows of us.”
“Still, they must be worn, and they’re very handsome,” said Kitty. “You’d better put them on. Miss Archdale said we might go to our dormitory on this occasion to dress if we liked. What a fuss there is being made over this old prize! Well, girls, you hop into your green frocks. I think brown stockings would look nice with them, and brown shoes.”
“Wouldn’t black be best?” said Anne.
“No, no; you really mustn’t copy me; it must be brown. Now go and tittivate.—By the way, what are you going to wear, Sophy?”
“That’s nothing to you,” answered Sophia.
“Oh my! how grand we’ve become! My dear child, I’m sure I don’t care; that rusty cashmere of yours will be in holes if you don’t get a new one soon. You’d better write to your beloved parents on the subject. I saw a hole under your arm and another just by your elbow on Sunday.”
Sophia marched out of the room. “Isn’t she huffy?” said Kitty, looking at the two Dodds; “and, oh, don’t I feel gay, gay, gay! What fun this is!”