Moths by Ouida — page 25: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

be MOTHS, 21 **T do not think so, mother, and I am not a Russian.” ** You are very contradictory and opinionated; much too opin: | fonated for a girl. It is horrid in a girl to have opinions. Fraulein, how could you let her have opinions? Good-night, dear. I shall hardly see you to-morrow, if at all. We shall be cruising about in Jack’s yacht,.and we shall start very early. The Grand Duchess will go out with us. She is great fun, only she does get in such arage when she loses at play that itis horrible to see. So sorry you must be shut up, my poor Vera!” ‘May I not go out just for a walk?’ “Well, I don’t know—yes, really, I think you might; if it’s very early, mind, and you keep out of everybody’s sight. Pray take care not a soul sees you.” “Is not this better, then?” murmured the offender, glancing down on a white serge frock, which she had put on in the hope that it might please. It was asimple braided dress with a plain silver belt, and was really unobjectionable. Lady Dolly scanned the garment with a critical air and a parti pris. Certainly it might have done for the morrow’s yachting, but then she did not want the wearer of it on the yacht. The girl would have to be everywhere very soon, of course, but Lady Dolly put off the evil day as long as she could. “It is the cut,” she said, dropping her glass with a sigh. ‘‘It can’t be Morgan’s?” ‘* Who is Morgan?” asked the child, so benighted that she had not even heard of the great Worth of nautical costume. ** Morgan is the only creature possible for serge,” sighed Lady Dolly. ‘‘ You don’t seem to understand, darling. Material is nothing, Make is everything. Look at our camelot and percale gowns that Worth sends us, and look at the satins and velvets of a bourgeoise from Asnieres, or a wine-merchant’s wife from Clapham! Oh, my dear child, cut your gown out of your dog’s towel or your horses’ cloths if you like, but mind Who cuts it: that is the one goldenrule! But good-night, my sweetest. Sleep well,” Lady Dolly brushed her daugher’s cheek with the diamond end of her earring, and took herself off in a maze of pale yellow and deep scarlet as mysteriously and perfectly blended as the sunset colors of an Italian night. ; ‘She is really very pretty,’ she said to her counsellor as he put her cloak round her and pocketed her fan. ‘‘ Really, nbd handsome, like Burne Jones’ things and all that, don’t you now.” ‘‘ A long sight prettier and healthier than any of ’em,” said the counsellor, lighting his cigar; for he had small respect for the High Art of his period. | They went forth into the moonlit night to the Casino, and left Vere to the sleep into which she sobbed herself like a child as she still was, soothed at last by the sound of the incoming tide ang she muttering of the good Fraulein’s-prayers, PR eK AE POON comicbooks (Ee)