with faultless accuracy; for everything, down to the shoes, fitted to
perfection. Green was the prevailing or ground tint--a soft sap green;
the pattern on it, which was very beautiful, being a somewhat obscure
red, inclining to purple. My delight culminated when I drew on the hose,
which had, like those worn by the others, a curious design, evidently
borrowed from the skin of some kind of snake. The ground color was light
green, almost citron yellow, in fact, and the pattern a bright maroon
red, with bronze reflections.

I had no sooner arrayed myself than, with a flushed face and palpitating
heart, I flew to exhibit myself to my friends, and found them assembled
and waiting to see and admire the result of their work. The pleasure I
saw reflected in their transparent faces increased my happiness a
hundredfold, and I quite astonished them with the torrent of eloquence
in which I expressed my overflowing gratitude.

"Now, tell me one secret," I exclaimed, when the excitement began to
abate a little. "Why is green the principal color in my clothes, when no
other person in the house wears more than a very little of it?"

I had no sooner spoken than I heartily wished that I had held my peace;
for it all at once occurred to me that green was perhaps the color for
an alien or mere hireling, in which light they perhaps regarded me.

"Oh, Smith, can you not guess so simple a thing?" said Edra, placing her
white hands on my shoulders and smiling straight into my face.

How beautiful she looked, standing there with her eyes so near to mine!
"Tell me why, Edra?" I said, still with a lingering apprehension.