“You never can, or never ought at least, wear any tulle dress over twice; and therefore it does not make much difference about its being made in costume,” said Emily carelessly. “Tom’s dress, you know, is the simplest thing in the world. It’s only a weaver’s apron, &c. The ass’s head he can easily have made; he’ll get it for a trifle at any toy-store, I should think. Ah, there’s Tom,” cried Emily, as she saw her brother-in-law entering the hall. “Here, Mr. Coolidge, come here,” she called. “Come in and persuade this perverse wife of yours into being reasonable. Here I’ve been ransacking my head for suitable characters for her and you for the Fancy Ball; and just as I had hit upon the very thing for both of you, and expecting your joint vote of thanks, and compliments for the brilliancy of my idea, she puts on a grave face, and makes all sorts of objections. Don’t you think she would make a pretty Titania, and you a beautiful, broad-shouldered Bully Bottom? I’ll tell you what, you shall not be lost to the world as Bully; if she wont be your Titania, I will, though I don’t think I will look the character very well, and beside—”
“Why Lucy,” said her husband, “I don’t think you could possibly find any thing prettier; and really, Emily, I will give you my vote of thanks at once for my share of it. Bully always was a favorite of mine. You see I am more grateful than Lucy. However,” continued he, turning to his wife, “If you don’t like it, ‘I am agreeable,’ as country people say, to any thing you prefer.”
“There’s nothing else that I prefer,” she replied, “only I thought the Dame Blanche would be more economical.”
“I veto the Dame Blanche,” cried Emily before Coolidge had time to speak. “It’s just one of those things that are very pretty the first time; but it’s as old and common now as possible. Besides, as you are a bride, Lucy, people will expect something from you; you always have dressed well as Lucy Sutherland—”
“I should be sorry if Lucy Coolidge appeared to less advantage now,” said Coolidge, taking Emily’s hint, and a little piqued by the insinuation. “I think, my dear, that would not be paying me much of a compliment,” he added good-naturedly, for he was the best tempered person in the world. “Come, if you like the dress, make up your mind at once. And, Emily, as you are it seems grand costumer-general on the occasion, perhaps you will be so kind as to lend me your aid afterward. Will you go with me when I look for some artiste capable of executing Bully’s head and ears?”
“With pleasure, as soon as I finish with your lady wife here. Now for Titania, Lucy.”
“I have a white satin dress, Emily, that I think would do for the under petticoat,” said Lucy.
“White satin,” said Emily musingly. “No, that wont do—it should be silk. Besides you’ve worn your satin, and the first thing in these dresses, and indeed in every other, is that they should be fresh and clean.”
“Certainly,” said Mr. Coolidge. “I don’t understand much of lady’s dress, but that much I do. Nothing I hate so much as to see a woman in dirty finery; and pure fresh white is the prettiest thing she can wear. If you ladies dressed to please us gentlemen, you would never appear in any thing else. However, I don’t mean to interfere in what you’ll say, Emily, I don’t understand; only, Lucy, whatever you do decide on, let it be fresh and clean.”
“There Lucy, now I have your husband on my side, you have nothing to say,” cried Emily. “And to be fresh and clean, things must be new. You men understand effect,” she continued, turning to her brother-in-law, “though you are not much at details. And now let us be off to Madame Dudevant’s; I want to see some costumes she was to have in this morning—and you can speak to her about your dress at the same time.”