Part 2 (1/2)
”If you would like, I'll take the part,” Cynthia Vaughn suggested. ”I've all that canton flannel ermine, and the ruff made out of the old window curtains, which I wore when I was Queen Elizabeth.”
”That ruff would be a frightful anachronism,” said Emma Jane Anton.
”And the ermine has served three times already. Thank you, we'll manage somehow,” Witch Winnie a.s.serted, confidently.
We retired to the Amen Corner to talk it over. ”If worse comes to worst,” said Witch Winnie, ”I know I can make a magnificent train out of the plush table-cloth in Madame's library.”
”But how will you ever get it?”
”Emma Jane must ask her to lend it to us; she'll do anything for Emma Jane.”
”Emma Jane declines to act in this emergency,” said Miss Anton, firmly.
”You wouldn't be so mean!”
”But I would; Adelaide, please read Milly's letter again; I didn't half hear it.”
”I must have dropped it in the Society hall; I will get it after dinner.
If she had thought that Tib might be chosen to take her place, she would have done anything for the honor of the Amen Corner.”
Here some one tapped at the door, and announced, ”A letter for Miss Armstrong.”
”It's from Milly!” exclaimed Adelaide, ”and it looks as if it had been opened, and pasted up again.”
”I thought Madame boasted that she never submitted her young ladies to that sort of espionage,” said Witch Winnie.
”Girls, girls!” Adelaide fairly shrieked; ”just listen to this! Milly writes--
”'I forgot to say in my last that mamma's maid is putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to my costume, and Gibson will bring it around to-morrow. The dress (purple velvet) is one which mamma wore last summer when she was presented to the Queen. The lace which trims it was made to order from a pattern of her own selection in Brussels.
You may keep the crown, for the gems in it are only Rhinestones.
Aunt f.a.n.n.y wore it at a costume ball, and they sparkle like the real thing. Be careful of the lace, for mamma prizes it highly.
'Yours, Milly.
'P. S.--I've coaxed papa to lend you a silver chatelaine, old French repousse, linked with emeralds, which he keeps in his cabinet of curiosities. It shows finely against the velvet.'”
How we all exclaimed and chattered! ”Now what will the Hornets' Nest say to that?”
”Canton flannel ermine indeed!”
”I should like to see them bring on their old mosquito-netting ruff!”
”Real emeralds! A diadem flas.h.i.+ng with diamonds!”
”Don't tell them a word about it until Tib dawns on them in all her glory on Wednesday night.”
It was hard to keep this resolution, but we did. The Hornets were giggling and whispering among themselves as we marched in to dinner, with all the importance given by the possession of a state secret. The other girls relapsed into silence as we took our seats, and watched us with strange, significant looks.
”I've been looking up the matter in Racinet's work on Costume,” remarked Cynthia Vaughn, ”and I find you were right, Miss Anton; ruffs did not come in until long after Arthur's reign.”