“Thank you, sir,” said Pinner. “They’ll be a bit done up if we goes straight off back.”
The girls and Bill went up to the Clement-Pell group, and were made much of. It was the first time they had visited the Pells, and their coming was regarded as a special honour. Sir John and Lady Whitney had declined: and it was arranged that Bill and his sisters should sleep at our house, and the carriage come for them the next day.
Escaping from the Pells, we all sat down on a bench. Helen Whitney began whispering about the Miss Pells’ dresses.
“I never saw such beauties,” she exclaimed. “I wonder what they cost?”
“Millions, I should say,” cried Bill.
“These are plain ugly old things beside them,” grumbled Helen.
She meant her own dress and Anna’s. They wore white spotted muslins, and blue ribbons. One of those gorgeous robes was worth fifty times as much: but I know which set of girls looked the most lady-like.
“They are very beautiful,” sighed Helen, with a spice of envy. “But too much for an affair like this.”
“Not for them,” said Bill stoutly. “The Clement-Pells could afford robes of diamonds if they liked. I’m not sure but I shall go in for one of the girls.”