Cornie Dean's long black skirt trailed around her.

A.O.'s own jacket fitted her snugly, with Margaret Elwood's new black feather boa, which had just been sent her from home, hiding the cut of its familiar collar.

Jane Ridgeway's second best spectacles covered her mischievous eyes, and a black veil was draped over the small toque and blond hair in such a way that its broad band of crape hid the lower part of her face.

As a finishing touch a piece of gold-leaf, pressed over part of an upper front tooth, gave the effect of a large gold filling, whenever she smiled.
She had provided herself with a pair of black gloves, but at the last moment the left-hand glove could not be found.

When all her frantic overturnings failed to bring it to light, she gave up the search, not wanting to lose any more valuable time.