t thing. When a normal woman is
very happy, she puts on a perfectly new frock, if she has one, in real
life or on the stage, even when she is not going to be seen by any one
in particular. In this, therefore, Cecilia only followed the instinct of
her kind, and if the pretty new costume had not chanced to have come
from Paris, she would not have missed it at all, but would have worn
something else. As it happened to be ready, however, it would have been
a pity not to put it on, since she expected to remember that particular
day all the rest of her life.

Petersen said it was perfection, and Cecilia was not far from thinking
so, too.

CHAPTER XIII

Guido d'Este was already in the drawing-room with the Countess when
Cecilia entered, but she knew by their faces and voices that they had
not been talking of her, and was glad of it; for sometimes, when she was
quite sure that they had, she felt a little embarrassment at first, and
found Guido a trifle absent-minded for some time afterwards.

She took his hand, and perhaps she held it a second longer than usual,
and she looked into his eyes as she spoke to her mother. Yesterday she
would have very likely looked at her mother while speaking to him.

"I hope I am not late," she said, "Have I kept you waiting?"

"It was worth while, if you did," Guido said, looking at her with
undisguised admiration.

"It really is a success, is it not?" Cecilia asked, turning to her
mother now, for approval.

Then she turned slowly round, raised herself on tiptoe a moment, came
back to her original position, and smiled happily. Guido waited for the
Countess to speak.

"Yes--yes," the latter answered critically, but almost satisfied. "When
one has a figure like yours, my dear, one should always have things
quite perfect. A woman who has a good figure and is really well dressed,
hardly ever needs a pin. Let me see. Does it not draw under the right
arm, just the slightest bit? Put your arm down, child, let it hang
naturally! So. No, I was mistaken, there is nothing. You really ought to
keep your arm in the right position, darling. It makes so much
difference! You are not going to play tennis, or ride a bicycle in that
costume. No, of course not! Well, then--you understand. Do be careful!"

Cecilia looked at Guido and smiled again, and her lips parted just
enough to show her two front teeth a little, and then, still parted,
grew grave, which gave her