ugh when
you tried it on last. You must have drawn in the arm-holes while you
were sewing them. Yes, you have! I can see the puckers, and the
sleeves are stretched so tight too. You didn't take them in again,
surely?"

"Just a tiny bit. They looked so baggy. But the collar, Eunice, the
collar! For pity's sake take it off! I shall be raw in a moment. Take
the scissors, pull--tug! Get it off as quick as you can."

"Take it off! But then what will you--" pleaded Eunice; but Peggy's
eyes flashed at her with so imperious a command that she began to snip
without further protest. The band came off easily--astonishingly
easily, and Peggy heaved a sigh of relief, and flapped her arms in the
air.

"When! That's better. I can breathe again. I could not have borne it
another moment. Now I should be fairly comfortable, if only--only--the
sleeves were a little bigger! It is too late to let them out, but just
round the arm-holes, eh? A little tiny snip here and there to relieve
the pressure?"

She put her head on one side in her most insinuating fashion, but Eunice
was adamant. Never, she protested, would she consent to such a step.
No seam could be expected to hold, if treated in such fashion. How
would Peggy like it if her sleeve came off altogether in the course of
the evening? There would be humiliation! Better a thousand times a
trifling discomfort than such a downfall as that!

"Trifling!" echoed Peggy sadly. "Trifling indeed. Shows all you know.
I am suffering tortures, my dear, and you stand there, cool and
comfortable, preaching at me!" She paused for a moment, and for the
first time stared scrutinously at her friend. Eunice looked charming,
the simplicity of her dress giving a quaint, Quaker-like appearance to
the sweet face. Plain as her blouse was, it was a remarkable success
for a first effort, and though it had necessarily a dozen faults, the
whole effect was neat and dainty.

"What did I tell you?" groaned Peggy dismally. "Who looks better now,
you or I? I look `beautiful,' don't I, perfectly beautiful! It's so
becoming to have no collar band, and one's arms sticking out like
flails! I sha'n't be able to eat a bite. It's as much as I can do to
sit still, much less move about. I'll put on a fichu, and then I can
leave some hooks unfastened, to give myself a little air."

It seemed, indeed, the best solution, since somehow or other it was
necessary to conceal the jagged silk round