The Argosy — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

358 Beatrix. “Giving some colour to my eyebrows; they are so provokingly destitute of any,” explained Felicia, in a rather injured tone. ‘Dear me,” said Trixie. ‘How very nice it does make you look. Do you think, now, if I—just a little bit, you know—eh?” gingerly applying the beautifier as she spoke to as exquisitely pencilled a pair of brows as anyone need wish to have. “There, that is enough ; take care Trixie—not foo much you know,” Miss Rawdon said anxiously, putting her head on one side, and Superintending the effect with great empressement. ‘ You scarcely need it all, you see, my dear; not like me, whoamso light. Now turn round and let me look at you—all in black, with scarlet roses P—Well it is very becoming to your style, which, of course, is everything. And I—how do I look?” ‘‘ Delicious,” Beatrix exclaimed, gazing at her friend with open ad- miration. ‘‘ My dear I elicia, what a charming neck and arms you have, and how you do become white satin.” Miss Rawdon laughed. ‘Yes, I think I am looking very well,” she said gazing complacently at her splendid soft white self in the tall, old-fashioned glass behind her. “I hope” (with a little sigh) ‘‘ everybody else will think so. I believe you and I, Trixie, will be the handsomest in the room to-night.” ‘“¢ Oh, say yourself at once, Felicia,” said Miss Falkland, with affected encouragement in her tone. ‘You really think too little of yourself, and modesty, these days, 1s a wretched mistake. You know very well there is not a girl downstairs could hold a candle to you.” _“ Very well, then, according to your judgment, I wz// be the hand- somest here. to-night,” Felicia returned gaily; ‘‘and you will be the next. Does my train hang gracefully, Trixie? You are ever so much more to be admired than Laura Santly, in my eyes; her mouth is so enormous, and she is so wanting in refinement, poor girl.” ‘“‘ Yes, she certainly does lack that repose which marked the Vere de Veres,” Miss Falkland said, with a light laugh. “Iam not afraid of her, atall events, being happy in the knowledge that I am five times as good looking. But come, Felicia, come my dear; 1f you hngered before the glass for another hour, you could not be lovelier, and all the people are waiting for us.” Which conversation just shows how young ladies really value themselves, and how candidly they confess it within the sacred precincts of their own rooms. “Miss Trixie, may I have the pleasure of this dance? I fancy you are not engaged.” It was Curzon who spoke, somewhere about the middle of the evening, and Miss Falkland turned and slipped her hand acquiescingly within his arm. , ‘You are right for once,” she said, and they moved away to the music of the “‘ Soldaten-heder.”- ‘You do not dance at all badly,” Lord Stainer said-presently,) in a as S. . ECoOMmicloooks (CO) in —_) -6hE—rlCSS