ort in store: the most
accomplished of her assistants,--one who had exhibited a skill in design
and execution positively marvellous,--had several times expressed a
strong inclination to establish herself in America, and would gladly
make her _debut_ in the New World under the patronage of the
marchioness. This information threw Madame de Fleury into such
ecstasies that all the waves of the Atlantic, which had been ruthlessly
tossing their wrecks about her brain, were suddenly stilled, and she
declared that Mademoiselle Melanie must make her preparations to sail in
the same steamer; for the knowledge that she was on board would render
the voyage endurable. The marchioness complacently added that she felt
so much strengthened by these tidings, that she could now look forward
to meeting, with becoming fortitude, the trials incident upon her
residence among a semi-civilized nation.

We need hardly relate how soon, after reaching Washington, the fair
Parisian discovered that civilization had made astounding progress if it
might be estimated by the deference paid to "_chiffons_;" nor need we
portray her astonishment at finding that American women "_of fashion_"
were not merely close copyists of extreme French modes, but that they
exaggerated even the most extravagant, and hunted after the newest
styles with the national energy which their countrywomen of a nobler
class expended upon nobler objects; and were more ready to deform or
ignore nature, and swear allegiance to the despotic rule of the
Crinoline Sovereign, than any Parisian belle under the sun.

Madame de Fleury's royal sway over the empire of "_chiffons_" was soon
as thoroughly established in Washington as it had been in Paris. Dress,
or head-dress, bodice, bonnet, mantle, gaiter, glove, worn by her,
multiplied itself in important imitations, and every feminine chrysalis
sent forth its ballroom butterfly in a livery to match. Whatever style,
shape, color, she adopted, however extraordinary, became the rage for
that season, and disappeared from sight, totally banished by her regal
command, at the inauguration of the next.

At one period no skirt could sweep the pavement, or lie in rich folds at
the bottom of a carriage, unadorned by an imposing flounce that almost
covered the robe; a little later, the one sober flounce was driven into
obscurity by twenty coquettish small ones; and these were displaced by
primly puffed bands; which gave way to fanciful "keys" running