As soon as they entered the room, Harriet began to admire the lace
trimming of Anne's dress, asking many questions about it, to all of
which Anne replied with great good nature. As soon as the lace had
been sufficiently discussed, Harriet turned round to Elizabeth,
exclaiming, 'Why, Lizzie, why in the world have you taken to that
fashion of doing your hair? it makes you look thinner than ever.
Such dark hair too! it wants a little colour to relieve it; why do
you not wear a red band in it, like mine?'

'I thought this way of wearing it saved time,' said Elizabeth; 'but I
believe I shall curl it again.'

'Indeed I hope you will; you have no notion how thin it makes you
look,' said Harriet.

'Of course I must look thin if I am thin,' said Elizabeth, a good
deal annoyed by Harriet's pertinacity.

'Thin you are, indeed,' continued Harriet, taking hold of her wrist.
Elizabeth drew back hastily, and Harriet relinquished it; conscious
perhaps, that however thin the arm might look, her own broad ruddy
hand would hardly bear a comparison with Elizabeth's long slender
white fingers, and returned to the subject of the hair, shaking her
profusion of ringlets.

'And straight hair is all the fashion now, but I think it gives a
terrible dowdy look. Only that does not signify when you are not
out.--By-the-bye, Miss Merton, are you out?'