William Le Queux
"The Broken Thread"
Chapter One.
Concerns a Girl in Black.
“No. I mean the girl in black. The one leading the pom.”
“By jove! Yes. She’s uncommonly smart, isn’t she?”
“Her friend isn’t half bad-looking, either?”
“I don’t think so very much of her, Raife. But Southport at this time of year is always full of pretty girls.”