It was just at that moment that the door was flung open by Jane, and the
Bertrams made their appearance.

Catherine and Mabel wore the simplest white washing-dresses. Their
girlish waists were encircled by sashes of pale gold. Catherine's thick
dark hair was coiled tightly round her head--Mabel's more frizzy and
paler locks fell in wavy curls round her forehead and on her shoulders.
Nobody else looked the least like the Bertrams. Their dresses were as
cheap as any other girl's dresses in the room. Daisy and Polly Jenkins
had really much handsomer and finer hair, but somehow the effect
produced by the Bertrams was altogether different.

Mrs. Meadowsweet addressed them in a deferential tone as "Miss," and it
went like an electric flash through the minds of all the other visitors
that the old lady was quite right when she thought it her duty to
receive them in state.

Bertram was in flannels, and these were cut not exactly after the
pattern of those worn by young Bell, who looked with a sort of despair
at his true love, Daisy, whose eyes, in company with the three pairs of
eyes of the Bells, were directed full upon the aristocratic face of
Captain Bertram.

"Come into the garden," said Beatrice, stepping forward in her usual
bright way, forgetting herself completely, and in consequence putting
every one else at their ease. "We are very punctual people at
Northbury," she continued, "and we are all wild to begin our game
Captain Bertram, these are my friends, the Bells. May I introduce you?
This is Miss Matty, and this is Miss Alice, and this is Miss Sophy.