ning. The prince asked himself if he should
go to the Palmers. Poor Mme. Derline; she was of very slight importance
beside this new wonder! And then, too, the prince was a methodical man.
The hour for whist had arrived; so he departed to play whist.

The following morning Mme. Derline found ten lines on the Palmer's ball
in the "society column." There was mention of the marquises, the
countesses, and the duchesses who were there, but about Mme. Derline
there was not a word--not a word.

On the other hand, the writer of theatrical gossip celebrated in
enthusiastic terms the beauty of that ideal maid-of-honor, and said,
"_Besides, the Prince of Nerins declared that Mademoiselle Miranda was
indisputedly the most beautiful woman in Paris!_"

Mme. Derline threw the paper in the fire. She did not wish her husband
to know that she was already not the most beautiful woman in Paris.

She has, however, kept the great dress-maker and the English coachman,
but she never dared to ask for the little groom.

THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS

When the women of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries write their
memoirs they boldly present themselves to the reader thus: "I have a
well-shaped mouth," said the Marquise of Courcelles, "beautiful lips,
pearly teeth, good forehead, cheeks, and expression, finely chiselled
throat, divine hands, passable arms (that is to say, they are a little
thin); but I find consolation for that misfortune in the fact that I
have the prettiest legs in the world."

And I will follow the marquise's example. Here is my portrait: Overskirt
of white illusion trimmed with fringe, and three flounces of blond
alternating with the fringe; court mantle of cherry silk girt by a high
flounce of white blond which falls over the fringe and is caught up by
Marie Antoinette satin; two other flounces of blond are placed behind at
intervals above; on each side from the waist up are facings composed of
little alternating flounces of blond, looped up with satin; the big puff
behind is bound by a flounce of white blond. A little white waist, the
front and shoulder-straps of which are of satin trimmed with blond. Belt
of red satin with large red butterfly.

The world was made in six days, I in three. And yet I too am in the
world--a little complicated world of silk, satin, blond, loops, and
fringes. Did God rest while he was making the world? I do not know; but
I do know that the scissors that cut me out and the needle