Then, albeit she was hurried for time, she could not resist trying the effect of a certain lavender neck ribbon upon the dress she was then wearing, before the mirror.

And then suddenly she became aware of a child's voice close beside her, and she stopped.

And then the child's voice repeated, "Is it Mamma ?" Mrs.Tretherick faced quickly about.

Standing in the doorway was a little girl of six or seven.

Her dress had been originally fine, but was torn and dirty; and her hair, which was a very violent red, was tumbled seriocomically about her forehead.