to walk up the church aisle in a new dress,
was to hear every pew creak behind one. At the private hotels which she
had visited at the seaside, the arrival of a new inmate roused the whole
establishment to animation; to a lesser extent Mary was prepared to be
of importance in London also. But no one looked at her. Not a single
head turned as she trotted with short, nervous steps in the wake of the
foreign waiter; when, tentatively, she lifted her eyes from her plate,
diners to right and left were consuming their food with an utter
disregard of her presence. Mary took courage, and began to look about
on her own account; presently she realised that no courage was required.
Seated in the midst of a crowd she was virtually as much alone as on a
desert island. After lunch she dressed herself, and went out into the
street. On the broad outer step of the hotel she hesitated, uncertain
in which direction to turn, and the porter enquired if she wished a
taxi. It seemed easier to assent than refuse, so she allowed herself to
be assisted into the tonneau of a passing car, and for the second time
that day faced the problem of deciding where to go. The reflection of
her own hat in a strip of mirror settled the question,--the hat which
had aged unaccountably since morning! She directed the man to drive to
a good milliner's, and was set down before the door of a noted robber in
head-gear.

The next half-hour was a nightmare of discomfort. It began with the
opening of the swing door, and the view into the luxurious, the
terrifying luxurious _salon_ within. The floor was covered with the
softest of carpets, cushioned lounges were set round the walls,
reflected in mirrors were the figures of nymph-like forms, with
wonderful coiffures of gold and auburn. The same mirrors reflected the
small, navy-blue figure standing in the doorway, and the contrast was
not encouraging.

One of the nymphs floated forward, bowed Mary to a chair, and took off
her hat and veil, the which she placed in horrible conspicuousness on a
marble-topped table. This done she floated away, leaving Mary to face
her own reflection, and give surreptitious touches to her flattened
locks. Never had she harboured any delusions about her own appearance,
but it had remained for that moment to show her the extent of her
limitations. When the nymph came back she bore in her hand a helmet
erection, from which two brush-like feathers protruded at unexpected
angle