One moment she repeated that she was a fool to have come; and the next, she would not have found herself back in Lancaster Gate for the world.
* * * * * Meanwhile, in the adjoining room, Helena was putting on a tea-gown, a white and silver "confection," with a little tail like a fish, and a short skirt tapering down to a pair of slim legs and shapely feet.

After all her protestations, she had allowed the housemaid to help her unpack, and when the dress was on she had sent Mary flying down to the drawing-room to bring up some carnations she had noticed there.

When these had been tucked into her belt, and the waves of her brown hair had been somehow pinned and coiled into a kind of order, and she had discovered and put on her mother's pearls, she was pleased with herself, or rather with as much of herself as she could see in the inadequate looking-glass on the toilet-table.

A pier-glass from somewhere was of course the prime necessity, and must be got immediately.

Meanwhile she had to be content with seeing herself in the eyes of the housemaid, who was clearly dazzled by her appearance.
Then there were a few minutes before dinner, and she ran along the passage to Mrs.Friend's room.
"May I come in?
Oh, let me tie that for you ?" And before Mrs.Friend could interpose, the girl's nimble fingers had tied the narrow velvet carrying a round locket which was her chaperon's only ornament.