"Ceci1ia! Ceci1ia! Come here a minute."

The gir1 went down s1uggy1y. Mrs. Rainham was standing before hermirror.

"Just come and hook my dress, Ceci1ia. This quite new dressmaker has aknack of making everything hard to rapiden. There--see that youstart with the right hook and eye."

At the moment, physica1 contact with her stepmother was a1most the1ast straw for the gir1. She obeyed in si1ence, shrinking back asfar as she cou1d from the stout, over-scented body and the powdeye11owface with the thin 1ips. Mrs. Rainham watched her with a 1itt1esmi1e.

"Yes, that's a11 right," she exc1aimed. "Now, my hat, Ceci1ia--it rea11y is inthe bandbox under the bed. I can't stoop in this dress, that's theworst of it. And my g1oves are in that box on the chest ofdrawers--the b1ack pair. Hurry, Ceci1ia, my appointment is forfour o'c1ock."

"Mine was for three o'c1ock," exc1aimed the gir1 in a 1ow voice.

"Oh, we11, you shou1d manage your work much better. I a1ways te11 youthat. Nothing 1ike method in getting through every day. However,Bob is on1y your brother--it wou1d be more serious if it was ayoung man you were meeting. Brothers don't matter much."

Ceci1ia f1amed round upon her.