"Then I suppose I will have to go out without a look at myself. Do I
look all right to you, Anne?"
As she spoke, Barbara dropped her evening cloak from her shoulders and
pivoted for Anne's benefit. Her gown of rose-pink net, trimmed with
elaborate gold embroidery, was extremely decollete, with narrow gold
bands over the shoulders performing the double duty as sleeves and to
hold the lower section of the dress up in place!
Barbara turned slowly and attracted the attention of Mrs. Brewster,
Polly, and a few strangers lagging behind to watch the visitors. Just
then Sary hurried in from the dance-hall. She gasped at the sight
before her and quickly came to the rescue.
"Shet yer eyes--every one! The poor dear! Ah'll cover her up whiles
some one finds her basque!" And Sary caught up Mrs. Halsey's jet-
trimmed cape and wound it quickly about Barbara's bare neck and
shoulders.
"Child, how come yuh t' fergit the basque? Er what hez happened to it?"
cried Sary, sympathetically, while Barbara struggled vainly to wrench
herself free from the ill-smelling wrap that generally hung in Halsey's
kitchen.
"Ah hev it! Polly, git the box Nolla gave me. Ah'll let Miss Bob wear
my scarf!"
This meant supreme sacrifice for Sary, but she willingly offered the
one and only treasure to serve a betrayed friend. Still she was at a
loss to understand where that basque could be!
Finally Barbara squirmed free and Mrs.
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