t and feathers. "I expect that stupid dressmaker couldn't get it
done in time. I've waited for it all the week."

"What a sell!" said Maria, but with mediocre interest; for she had
cocked her eye at a harmless-looking youth, who was doing his best not
to blush on passing the line of girls.--"I say, do look at that toff
making eyes. Isn't he a nanny-goat."

On several subsequent Sundays, Laura fingered, in an agony of
indecision, the pleasing stuff of the dress, and ruefully considered
its modish cut. Once, no one being present, she even took it out of the
wardrobe. But the merciless spring sunshine seemed to make the purple
shoot fire, to let loose a host of other colours it in as well, and,
with a shudder, she re-hung it on its peg.

But the evil day came. After a holiday at Godmother's, she received a
hot letter from Mother. Godmother had complained of her looking
"dowdy", and Mother was exceedingly cross. Laura was ordered to spend
the coming Saturday as well at Prahran, and in her new dress, under
penalty of a correspondence with Mrs. Gurley. There was no going
against an order of this kind, and with death at her heart Laura
prepared to obey. On the fatal morning she dawdled as long as possible
over her mending, thus postponing dressing to go out till the others
had vacated the bedroom; where, in order not to be forced to see
herself, she kept her eyes half shut, and turned the looking-glass
hind-before. Although it was a warm day, she hung a cloak over her
shoulders. But her arms peeped out of the loose sleeves, and at least a
foot of skirt was visible. As she walked along the corridor and down
the stairs, she seemed to smudge the place with colour, and, directly
she entered the dining-hall, comet-like she drew all eyes upon her.
Astonished titterings followed in her wake; even the teachers goggled
her, afterwards to put their heads together. In the reception-room
Marina remarked at once: "Hullo!--is THIS the new dress your mother
wrote us about?"

Outside, things were no better; the very tram-conductors were
fascinated by it; and every passer-by was a fresh object of dread:
Laura waited, her heart a-thump, for the moment when he should raise
his eyes and, with a start of attention, become aware of the screaming
colour. At Godmother's all the faces disapproved: Georgina said, "What
a guy!" when she thought Laura was out of earshot; but the boys stated
their opinion openly as soon as they had her to themselves.