“The ladies say, do let ’em run right up, without ceremony,” reported the servant.
“‘Arethusa Payne,’ and ‘Marietta Sibthorpe,’” read Blanche from the cards. “Ask them to walk up to the work-room, Jane. Mind that you say ‘the work-room.’” As the amused girl left the chamber, the young lady continued: “An Inspection Committee! Let them come! Won’t I make them open their eyes, though?”
“I had no idea you were engaged with a dressmaker. I am afraid we intrude,” simpered Miss Payne, tiptoeing, like a cautious hen, between Blanche’s work-stand, piled with bonnet frames and linings, and Imogen’s, down which flowed a river of silken flounces, half gathered at the top; noting likewise, by turning her sharp face to the right, then the left, as she stepped (still like an inquisitive Partlet), that Emma’s tall desk, with a ledger open upon it, was in a corner.
Mrs. Hiller was ripping up a black silk dress; Emma was pulling a velvet hat to pieces.
“Only practising our trades a little in furbishing up things; giving a spring-ish look to hats and gowns,” rejoined Blanche, with saucy politeness. “One gets so sick of winter clothes!”
“Dear me, how convenient! What a source of amusement it must be to have that sort of knack!” said Miss Sibthorpe, self-compassionately. “It is a genuine talent, isn’t it now? downright genius! And can you actually make a hat, Blanche! I couldn’t put a bit of ribbon on mine to save my life!”
“But we are professionals,” put in Imogen. “You have no idea how we have worked to acquire the artistic touch. We had Miss Tiptop’s forewoman with us at the country cottage we rented last summer, all the ‘dull season,’ on purpose to teach me dressmaking, besides the lessons I had had in town. Blanche ran down to the city every week for an all-day lesson.”
“But how very odd!” ejaculated Arethusa.
“That people should pay such exorbitant milliners’ bills all their lives, when they could learn the business with one-fourth the labor and in one-tenth of the time music requires?” Blanche said, in wilful misunderstanding, setting her head on one side, and holding her unfinished hat off at arm’s length to examine the effect. “It is queer, as you say. I’ll be generous, girls. I’ll give you instructions, if you wish—take you as my apprentices. I should enjoy it hugely.”
Both laughed shrilly and affectedly, to disguise the offence her proposal gave them.