ons--I think eighteen inches wide--tied in a bow to be
knotted over the left ear, and ramify from the chin-dimple to the crest
of the hair-wave. Eiderdown, lightly packed in a hollow cylinder about
the size of a pint preserving jar, covered with ten-inch frills of
chiffon, pieced out with ribbon, wadded neglige, were points that made
the muff more dainty than warm. The combination was designed to be worn
without the muff on an ocean boardwalk about sunset, when the wind dies
down. Cosy comfort was to be supplied by the muff on a windy day, for
only a real mermaid could wear a plain fish net in all kinds of weather.

"It's a most stunning affair!" exclaimed Nellie, admiring with close
scrutiny all the fine points in the shirring, hemstitching and accordeon
plaiting.

"Very airy, but pretty," was Mrs. Gibson's view. "What is it to be worn
over? Oh, I see; this beautiful soft white taffeta. Well, Gabrielle, you
will look a bride with that gown, I am sure."

"That is one of the fine things I have gained by delay. If we had been
married five weeks ago, I would not have thought of this gem." And the
girls laughed, while Jim looked on in surprised delight. The details of
dressmaking he was not competent to discuss.

"Why does it take so many clothes to get married?" asked Jim, evidently
not understanding that every event in a woman's life is a peg for more
clothes.

"What a strange question! How foolish, Jim!" exclaimed the women.

"Don't you know that a wedding is a ceremonial affair, where all the
grand formalities must be observed?" asked Nellie. "You wouldn't have us
scuffle through it in old shoes and walking skirts, would you?"

"Jim's notion of getting married," said Gabrielle, "is extremely
primitive. For my part, I like nice things. I'm so sorry they do not
appeal to Jim." Gabrielle feigned disappointment.

"I should say they did appeal to me," Jim hastily assured the critics.
"They are so surprising!"

"Surprising! How so?" asked Nellie.

"Like a sunrise, I suppose," answered Jim. "I've never seen many, but
those who have rave over them. What a pity the styles change so often!
Next year the net in that dress will all have to be taken off and put in
place of the bead trimming on the lamp shades; the bead trimming must
then be sent to Staten Island and dyed green to make it proper for hat
ornamentation, a necklace or--"

"Amber is the proper color for a necklace," laughed Mrs. Gibson. "Nellie
cut her teeth