She wore a _negligee_ of white, with delicate
trimmings of swan's down and looked, on the whole, the living
impersonation of luxury and beauty. When I was shown in she greeted me
with a languid smile, but did not alter her comfortable position.
"I am so glad you've come, Amey," she said looking up at me where I
stood beside her. "Just throw your becoming wearables anywhere there
and come and sit down for a chat."
I did as she told me, and a moment later we were both settled
luxuriously before the glowing embers ready for mutual entertainment.
"Did you think I was crazy, Amey, when you received my note this
morning?" Alice asked, drawing the vagrant folds of her soft wrapper
about her.
"Well, no, Alice," I answered slowly, "but I found it a little queer,
that was all."
"Queer world, is'nt it Amey?"
I smiled, and still looking into the fire said, as if in soliloquy.
"How much alike we girls are. I came to that very conclusion an hour
ago before my own embers."
"What reason have _you_ to think that?" she said, with a wondering
look in her beautiful blue eyes.
"Every reason in the world."
"And I have so often envied you, Amey Hampden, and thought you a
fortunate and happy girl beside a wretch like me."
"Alice!" I broke in, in consternation "how can you talk like this?
You, the spoilt darling of Fortune herself, you, the cynosure of so
many eyes, the possessor of untold worldly comfort and happiness.
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