"Comme-ça, madame," repeated the smiling pretty Félicé.
"Yes, comme-ça: friz this dreadful crop into curls, boucles, Félicé—grand boucles, like mine. Donnez mademoiselle un very nice tournure, and let her be très bien mise. You may laugh, Bell, but I assure you a Parisian perfectly understands what you mean, if you only use the words 'coiffure,' 'parure,' or 'tournure;' they fill up the rest of the sentence intuitively."
Christobelle submitted to the torture of the comb and curling-irons with great satisfaction. Whatever was fashionable in Paris, must be admired and envied in England, and her mother would be pleased to see her decorated by the hand of approved good-taste.
The hair was not the "ultima thule" of Félicé's care. A "bustle" was appended to Christobelle's waist, and the folds of her muslin frock were drawn over it with the nicest care; her dress was dragged down to give a lengthened appearance to the waist, and the band tightened till she could hardly breathe. Mrs. Tom Pynsent and her "artiste" were charmed with the result of their exertions. Félicé spoke a long sentence, which Christobelle translated to her sister, whose knowledge of the language was not at all improved by four months' residence in Paris. It was a well-turned compliment upon the change in the young lady's appearance. Anna Maria regretted that their education had been so little attended to by Lady Wetheral.
"Papa has taught you so many accomplishments, Bell! You draw, and you speak French, and quote delightfully, Charles Spottiswoode says. You have had many advantages over us. The Count de Nolis said I was rapidly improving in French, and he advised me to return to Paris soon, to learn the accent; but I cannot speak it half so fluently as you do. I wonder what mamma will say to your head? I think it perfect."
Their appearance certainly made a sensation in the drawing-room, for Lady Wetheral raised her glass with a surprised and satisfied expression of countenance, and examined Christobelle very attentively. Mrs. Pynsent caught a glance of her head, curled, frizzed, and bowed in all directions; and she exclaimed, "Hollo, there! why, Miss Bell, what's the matter now? they have made a dancing-dog of you!"
"You have done a very kind action by your sister, my dear Mrs. Tom Pynsent," said Lady Wetheral, still gazing at Christobelle through her glass; "you have quite christianized her style and appearance."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Mrs. Pynsent, "poor Miss Bell! Well, now they have done it. Curly-headed christians for ever, Mrs. Tom! Who are you going to baptize next?"
"But does not Bell become her baptism?" asked Anna Maria, smiling.