Miss Egeria looked troubled: she never knew how far to take Johanna seriously. "You always look charming, dear Johanna," she said. "I hardly think--of course you know far more than I about social functions: it is so long since we had a large party in Cyrus----" "Cheer up! I'll stay at home to please you!" Miss Johanna settled herself comfortably among her pillows. "Now let me look at you!" In some trepidation, Miss Egeria removed her shawl (that, at least, was all right; a camel's hair shawl was always in good taste!) and felt the keen dark eyes take in and appraise every item of her apparel; the dove-colored _moiré_ of antiquated cut, the mosaic jewelry, the "bertha" of splendid Honiton. "It is so long since we had a party in Cyrus!" Miss Egeria repeated; her voice faltered a little; Johanna's eyes were really--she felt quite--"quite undressed, my love!" as she told Kitty afterward, "as if I were in my--my underwear!" "Anne Peace took it in a little," she said, "but she thought it best not to alter the style: the lines were good, she thought----" "If Anne Peace had altered it I'd have whipped her. You are perfect, Gerie: a perfect 'Keepsake'! I wouldn't change you for any model on Fifth Avenue. Where's Almeria? I don't believe she's a patch on you!" "Oh, my dear! Almeria has the Velvet: you remember the Velvet, surely! You always thought it elegant: Aunt Vanderscholt, for whom it was made, employed the best dressmaker in New York, I have always understood. Sister is downstairs in the parlor with Father: so kind of you and Kitty to help us out in this way. Kitty is in _such_ demand this evening! Would you like to see Sister, Johanna? She charged me to say--she felt that you would probably feel able to see only one person at a time----" "Gammon!" Miss Johanna's eyes twinkled. "Trot her up, Gerie, and your father, too! Don't look like that! I am perfectly proper: it won't hurt him to see a bed at his time of life." "My dear Johanna!" Miss Egeria gasped. "Not for worlds would Father intrude--a lady's chamber----" "Mr. Bygood!" Miss Johanna raised a clear, high-pitched voice. "Come up, won't you, and bring Almy? I want to see you!" Miss Egeria faded away with a little moan of protest; a moment later entered Miss Almeria, superb in black velvet, with a magnificent lace scarf on her admirable shoulders. "Ah!" said Miss Johanna under her breath. "I knew there was more Honiton. That's the flounce!" "Good evening, Almy!" she said aloud. "Where's your father? Oh, how do you do, Mr. Bygood? I _am_ glad to see you! shake hands! Are you shocked? Gerie was too shocked to stay in the room. How do you like my jacket? You look perfectly lovely! I'd marry you to-morrow if you'd ask me. Now I've shocked Almeria!"