into poetry. It would never do in prose; that would be quite shocking."

"Oh!" said Phronsie, finding the conversation some alleviation to the
fitting-on process.

"Now this left side," said Polly, twisting her head to obtain a good
view of the point in question, "is just right; I couldn't do it any
better if I were to try a thousand times. Why won't this other one
behave, and fall into a pretty curve, I wonder?"

Phronsie yawned softly as the brown eyes were safely behind her.

"I shall gather it up anyway, so," and Polly crushed the refractory
folds recklessly in one hand; "that's the way Mary Gibbs's hat trimmings
look, and I'm sure they're a complete success. Oh! that's lovely," cried
Polly, at the effect. "Now, that's the treatment the whole drapery
needs," she added in the tone of an art connoisseur. "Oh!"

A rushing noise announced the approach of two or three boys, together
with the barking of Prince, as they all ran down the wide hall.

"O dear, dear!" exclaimed Polly, hurriedly pulling and pinning, "there
come the boys to rehearse. It can't be four o'clock," as the door opened
and three members of the cast entered.

"It's quarter-past four," said Jasper, laughing and pulling out his
watch; "we gave you an extra fifteen minutes, as you had such a lot to
do. Dear me! but you are fine, Phronsie. I make my obeisance to Princess
Clotilde!" and he bowed low to the little silver and white figure, as
did the other two boys, and then drew off to witness the final touches.