The Man in Possession — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

72 THE MAN IN POSSESSION. andthe little dressmaker who worked by the day, and | who could not ‘‘suggest,” though she was clever enough to follow out skilful direction, or when guided by taste. Kate possessed excellent taste, and that faculty of ‘‘ making the best” of even poor materials which is so useful to girls who must dress on small means, As time was so limited she bought her two evening- dresses ready-made as far as skirts were concerned; the bodies were turned out by herself and the dress- maker with a daring originality that would have ' astonished the shop-keeper who sold what was termed ‘‘ Elegant costumes, with material for bodices included,” at prices varying from three to seven guin- eas. Onedress was of black and white striped silk, which Kate trimmed skilfully with jet, the other of daffodil-coloured satin, perfectly plain and moulded to the beautiful figure of the wearer with an ease and perfection of ‘‘ fit” that challenged Bond Street, itself. Three guineas out of the ten remained, and now, let all young ladies with moderate allowances listen with bated breath, for not only did this extraordinary girl manage boots and gloves, and one hat, but a veritable che/-d'e@uvre in the way of a tea-gown. A tea-gown of pale cinnamon-coloured cashmere, re- lieved by touches of gold. The said gold-trimming, however (not to deceive my fair readers) had been a lucky purchase at a sale the previous summer ; being, as Kate had at once descried, a veritable bargain, and capable of being turned to many uses. It made the tea-gown a thing of perfection,—when Kate wore it. One cannot, of course, affirm that it would have COMicloe (Sri C(O)