“Yes, and that will be quite enough difference to prevent you or anybody else from mistaking one for the other or thinking you a pair of twins. I think you ought each to have a handsome black silk too, and some pretty home and morning dresses. But fortunately we don’t need to purchase, or even to decide on, everything to-day.”
“No, we don’t, and it is well, for I want to consult my sister first. She has as much right as I to decide these questions.”
“I agree with you,” said Dorothy, “but you are better than some sisters or you wouldn’t be so ready to own it; some would say, ‘I’m the eldest, and things ought all to be as I want them.’”
“Blanche always wants me to have my own things exactly as I want them, and reserves the same privilege for herself, which I think is the better way; for what is becoming to one is not always equally so to the other.”
“No, your complexions are different, but both beautiful. I have never been able to decide which was the prettier, and would be only too thankful to exchange with either of you,” said Dorothy in her merry tones.
“O Dorothy, how can you say that?” exclaimed Ethel. “I call you very pretty; you are not fair, but your skin is so smooth and soft, and you have such a lovely bright color in your cheeks, such large handsome eyes with long, silky lashes that curl so prettily, such beautiful teeth and——”
“Oh, stop, stop, you little flatterer!” exclaimed Dorothy. “You’ll have me as vain as a peacock, which will entirely spoil any pretensions to beauty that I may be supposed to have. Ah, let us go in here. They have the loveliest dress goods, and I dare say we can find the very shade of gray cloth wanted for your travelling suit.”
Several hours were spent in shopping; then they returned to Ethel’s little home laden with parcels, though the heavier bundles had all been left to be sent, either there or to Mr. George Eldon’s.
“Oh, I am glad to see you!” cried Blanche as they entered, “and though you do look tired, I know by your happy faces that you’ve been successful, and by the looks of your satchels that you have a good many pretty little things to show me; but dinner’s just ready and I can wait till you have refreshed yourselves with food. We will all enjoy the exhibition better after that has been attended to; so come out to the dining room,” and she led the way as she spoke.
“Really I don’t know whether we can wait to make our important communications,” said Dorothy, laying down her satchel and removing her hat and coat. “However, Ethel, it may be the wisest plan, if we consider Blanche’s good; since what we have to say and to show might destroy her appetite for this dinner, which certainly smells very nice and appetizing. I think you will discover that I have not lost, by the way, my relish for good, substantial, well-prepared food. Partaking of it will doubtless greatly assist me in abstaining from unwisely making prompt revelation concerning the doings and happenings of our late expedition—the raids we have made upon merchants, wholesale and retail.”