"It's half after five, so we must be lively, if I am to get back in time to settle the old ladies, and get ready for dinner. Hustle now! I'll help you to shed your own duds, and then pipe up for the transformation! That tea-gown's the limit! I thought I knew the last thing there was to learn about clothes, but I wouldn't be above going in for a course of too-ition from the woman who fixed those frills! This is going to be an historic occasion for you, my friend. Your sinful nature is kinder dead to the joys of frillies, but there's going to be a big awakening! The woman isn't born who could come out of that gown the same as she went in!" She lifted the blue serge skirt over Elma's head, and surveyed the plain hem with tragic eyes. "It's pretty hard luck to be born a woman instead of a man, but it softens it some to have a swirl of frills round one's ankles! If I'd to poke around with a hem, I'd give up altogether.--Now, then, sit still where you are, while I fix your hair! I'm going to do it a way of my own, that will be more comfy for leaning up against cushions. If you don't like it you can say so, but I guess you will." She brushed the soft light tresses to the top of Elma's head, and arranged them skilfully in massed-up curls and loops. From time to time she retreated a step or two as if to study the effect, returning to heighten a curl, or loosen the sweep over the forehead. In reality she was reproducing, as nearly as possible, the coiffure of one of the beauties in miniature hanging on the drawing-room walls behind the couch on which Elma would probably pass the evening. It might chance that the eyes of mother or son would observe the likeness between the two girlish faces, a fact which could not but score in Elma's favour! When the dainty white robe was fastened, and each ribbon and lace patted into its place by skilful fingers, then, and not till then, Elma was allowed to regard herself in the glass. It was a startling revelation of her own beauty, but the predominant feeling was not elation, but distress. Accustomed as she was to a puritan-like simplicity, Elma felt almost shocked at her own changed appearance. The sweeping folds of the gown gave additional height to her figure, her neck looked like a round white pillar above the square of lace; the quaintly arranged tresses gave a touch of piquancy to her gentle features. An involuntary and quite impersonal admiration was followed by quick repentance. "Cornelia, I can't! I can't go down like this! I daren't do it. I look like an actress--so dressed up! Just as if I _wanted_ to look nice!" Cornelia sniffed eloquently. "Well--don't you?" "Yes, but--but I don't like to _look_ as if I did! Oh, Cornelia, couldn't I put on my own dress again, and do my hair the old way? I'd be so much happier!"