inger, in a breath.
At a hint from Rosa, she told her who the lady in the pink dress was,
and the lady in the violet velvet, and so on; for each lady was defined
by her dress, and, more or less, quizzed by this show-woman, not exactly
out of malice, but because it is smarter and more natural to decry than
to praise, and a little medisance is the spice to gossip, belongs to it,
as mint sauce to lamb. So they chatted away, and were pleased with
each other, and made friends, and there, in cool grot, quite forgot
the sufferings of their fellow-creatures in the adjacent Turkish bath,
yclept society. It was Rosa who first recollected herself. "Will not
Mrs. Lucas be angry with me, if I keep you all to myself?"

"Oh no; but I'm afraid we must go into the hot-house again. I like the
greenhouse best, with such a nice companion."

They slipped noiselessly into the throng again, and wriggled about, Miss
Lucas presenting her new friend to several ladies and gentlemen.

Presently Staines found them, and then Miss Lucas wriggled away; and in
due course the room was thinned by many guests driving off home, or to
balls, and other receptions, and Dr. Staines and Mrs. Staines went home
to the Bijou. Here the physician prescribed bed; but the lady would not
hear of such a thing until she had talked it all over. So they compared
notes, and Rosa told him how well she had got on with Miss Lucas, and
made a friendship. "But for that," said she, "I should be sorry I went
among those people, such a dowdy."

"Dowdy!" said Staines. "Why, you stormed the town; you were the great
success of the night, and, for all I know, of the season." The wretch
delivered this with unbecoming indifference.

"It is too bad to mock me, Christie. Where were your eyes?"

"To the best of my recollection, they were one on each side of my nose."

"Yes, but some people are eyes and no eyes."

"I scorn the imputation; try me."

"Very well. Then did you see that lady in sky-blue silk, embroidered
with flowers, and flounced with white velvet, and the corsage point
lace; and oh, such emeralds?"

"I did; a tall, skinny woman, with eyes resembling her jewels in color,
though not in brightness."

"Never mind her eyes; it is her dress I am speaking of. Exquisite; and
what a coiffure! Well, did you see HER in the black velvet, trimmed so
deep with Chantilly lace, wave on wave, and her head-dress of crimson
flowers, and such a riviere of diamonds; oh, dear! oh, dear!"