tially that the lady
"dropped in now and then, to play cribbage with the missis." The
Chumley matrons were not in the least inclined to follow the lead, and
call upon the plumber's daughter, neither, to tell the truth, did Miss
Bruce desire their attentions. She now looked down upon the town, and
cherished sneaking ambitions after the county. She gave herself airs,
and bought an aigrette for her Sunday bonnet. It is doubtful whether
her character was improved by being singled out for such special
attention, but at least she was happy, and happiness had been a chary
visitor in her life.

"This is the first, the very first Dorcas meeting I have ever been to in
all my life," announced Grizel, smiling. "And d'you know I believe it's
my first introduction to calico. This is calico, isn't it? Funny
smell! I rather like the smell. Do people really use it for undies?
Rather,--just a little--gritty,--don't you think?"

"Personally," Miss Bruce said primly, "I do not use calico. Not that
thread, Mrs Beverley! It's too fine. Let me give you a length...
What has Mrs Thompson given you to make?"

Grizel made a feint of unrolling the calico under cover of an upraised
arm.

"I shouldn't wish it mentioned in society,--but it's a comby! A comby
for a giant, or for a fat woman at a show. _Look_ at the waist width!
and I don't believe she'll ever be so long from the waist to the
shoulder. It will bag over her corsets, and make her back round.
Couldn't I take out a reef in the waist, and join it again with a bit of
embroidery?"

"We don't put embroidery on Dorcas garments."

"Never?"

"Never."

"Not the teeniest bit? Even at the top?"

"Never; but the bands are feather-stitched round the neck."

Grizel adopted an air of severity.

"I call it immoral. I shall speak to the Vicar. No woman can be
self-respecting in a calico band!... Well! can I cut out a piece and
join it to itself? Its against my principles to let it bag."

"Mrs Beverley, it won't bag! It might with you. That's different. Of
course if it were for you--"

Grizel's eyes opened in a round-eyed stare.

"Aren't they the same shape as I am?"

Miss Bruce made an unexpected answer. She looked the bride over, taking
in the graceful lines of the beautiful body which had the slightness of
a fay, an almost incredible slightness, but which was yet so rounded and
supple that by no possibility could it have been called thin... She
looked, and s