Stewart looked at her in her little loose, short white frock; at her long, slim legs and little white heelless shoes.
"Don't look at my legs!" she breathed.
"Ten!" he said unblinkingly.
"Oh, Tommy! I do so want to look old to-night! It's very erportant—what I've got to do! And I'll put some cakes in my pocket for you."
Nell ran past the room and upstairs to see how Denis was getting on. He had lost his collar stud. She found it for him; she put it in for him; she sewed the bow on to his shoe; she rearranged his tie; helped him on with his coat, and all he said in thanks was:—
"Oh, Jemima! how I pity the poor chap who marries you!"
Nell pulled her hair a trifle looser, using his glass. She turned on him, young, slim, radiantly pretty. "Do you?" she laughed. "I'll be an old maid, then!"
"You do look stunning, old girl! Bet I'll have the prettiest sister there to-night."
"Oh, I do believe you carry a chip of the blarney stone about with you. Come down and let Janie and Benny look at you. Denis, there's a most delicious scent in this room. What is it?"
"Eh? Oh, a bit of lily of the valley I thought you might like. It's on the wash-hand stand."