CHAPTER XVI. A DRESS PARADE

utofthosenewbitswewillconcoctahat.TheblacklaceMaudhasjusttakenoffthegreenonewilldotoedgetheviolet,andwithyournicesilkmantillayouarecomplete,don'tyousee?” “Idon'tquiteseeityet,butIhavefirmfaiththatIshallintime,andconsidermycallingcostumefinished,”saidFanny,gettingmoreandmoreinterestedasshesawhercondemnedwardrobecomingoutfreshagainunderPolly'smagicknack. “Therearetwothenthatpiqu,isallright,ifyoucutthetailoffthejacketandchangethetrimmingabit.Themuslinsonlyneedmendinganddoinguptolookaswellaseveryououghtnottoputthemawaytornandsoiled,mychild.Thetwoblacksilkswillbegoodstand-bysforyears.IfIwereyou,I'dhaveacoupleofneat,prettyprintsforhome-wear,andthenIdon'tseewhyyouaren'tfixedwellenoughforourshortseason.” “Can'tIdoanythingwiththisbarege?It'soneofmyfavoritedresses,andIhatetogiveitup.” “Youworethatthoroughlyout,andit'sonlyfitfortherag-bag.Yes,itwasveryprettyandbecoming,Iremember,butitsdayisover.” Fannyletthedresslieinherlapaminuteassheabsentlypickedatthefringe,smilingtoherselfoverthehappytimewhensheworeitlastandSydneysaidsheonlyneededcowslipsinherlaptolooklikespring.Presentlyshefoldeditupandputitawaywithasigh,butitneverwentintotherag-bag,andmysentimentalreaderscanunderstandwhatsavedit. “Theballdresseshadbetterbeputnicelyawaytillnextyear,”beganPolly,comingtoarainbowcoloredheap. “Mydayisover,Ishallneverusethemagain.Dowhatyoulikewiththem,”saidFancalmly. “Didyoueversellyourcast-offfinery,asmanyladiesdo?”askedPolly. “NeverIdon'tlikethefashion.Igiveitaway,orletMaudhaveitfortableaux.” “IwonderifyouwouldmindmytellingyousomethingBelleproposed?” “Ifit'sanoffertobuymyclothes,Ishouldmind,”answeredFanny,sharply. “ThenIwon't,”andPollyretiredbehindacloudofarsenic-greengauze,whichmadeherlookasifshehadthecholera. “Ifshewantedtobuythathorridnew'gooseberry-coloredgown,'asTomcallsit,I'dletherhaveitcheap,”putinMaud,whowasofapracticalturn. “Doesshewantit,Polly?”askedFan,whosecuriositygotthebetterofherpride. “Well,shemerelyaskedmeifIthoughtyou'dbemortallyoffended,ifsheofferedtotakeitoffyourhands,asyou'dneverwornit.Youdon'tlikeit,andinanotherseasonitwillbealloutoffashion,”saidPollyfromherverdantretreat. “Whatdidyousay?” “Isawshemeantitkindly,soIsaidI'dask.Nowbetweenourselves,Fan,thepriceofthatdresswouldgiveyouallyou'llwantforyourspringfixings,that'soneconsiderationthenhere'sanother,whichmayhavesomeweightwithyou,”addedPollyslyly.“TrixtoldBelleshewasgoingtoaskyouforthedress,asyouwouldn'tcaretowearitnow.ThatmadeBellefireup,andsayitwasameanthingtodowithoutofferingsomereturnforacostlythinglikethatandthenBellesaid,inherbluntway,'I'llgiveFanallshepaidforit,andmore,too,ifitwillbeanyhelptoher.Idon'tcareforthedress,butI'dliketoslipalittlemoneyintoherpocket,forIknowsheneedsitandistoogoodtoaskdearMr.Shawforanythingshecangetonwithout.'” “Didshesaythat?I'llgiveherthedress,andnottakeapennyforit,”criedFan,flushingupwithmingledangertowardTrixandgratitudetoBelle. “Thatwon'tsuitheryouletmemanageit,anddon'tfeelanyshameoranxietyaboutit.YoudidmanyakindandgenerousthingforBellewhenyouhadthepower,andyoulikedtodoitnowletherpayherdebts,andhavethesamepleasure.” “Ifshelooksatitinthatway,itmakesadifference.PerhapsI'dbetterthemoneywouldbeanimmensehelponlyIdon'tquiteliketotakeit.” “Kingsandqueensselltheirjewelswhentimesarehardortheygetturnedofftheirthrones,andnoonethinksitanythingamiss,sowhyneedyou?It'sjustalittletransactionbetweentwofriendswhoexchange