In another moment the hat was in her hands and both she and Jane were giving passably good imitations—modified by their respective personalities—of Milly’s awe-smitten admiration of the thing.
Staff was conscious of a sensation of fatigue. Bending over, he drew the bandbox to him and began to examine the wrappings and wads of tissue-paper which it still contained.
“It’s a perfect dear!” said Miss Landis in accents of the utmost sincerity.
“Indeed, mum,” chimed Jane, antiphonal.
“Whoever your anonymous friend may be, she has exquisite taste.”
“Indeed, mum,” chanted the chorus.
“May I try it on, Staff?”
“What?” said the young man absently, absorbed in his search. “Oh, yes; certainly. Help yourself.”
Alison moved across to the long mirror set in the door communicating with her bedroom. Here she paused, carefully adjusting the hat to her shapely head.