At a quarter past seven Susan put her head into the
sitting-room--only her head. At sight of his anxious face,
his tense manner, she burst out laughing. It seemed, and was,
grotesque that one so imperturbable of surface should be so upset.
"Can you stand the strain another quarter of an hour?" said she.
"Don't hurry," he urged. "Take all the time you want. Do the
thing up right." He rose and came toward her with one hand
behind him. "You said the dress was green, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Well--here's something you may be able to fit in somewhere."
And he brought the concealed hand into view and held a jewel
box toward her.
She reached a bare arm through the crack in the door and took
it. The box, the arm, the head disappeared. Presently there
was a low cry of delight that thrilled him. The face
reappeared. "Oh--Freddie!" she exclaimed, radiant. "You must
have spent a fortune on them."
"No. Twelve thousand--that's all. It was a bargain. Go on
dressing. We'll talk about it afterward." And he gently
pushed her head back--getting a kiss in the palm of his
hand--and drew the door to.
Ten minutes later the door opened part way again. "Brace
yourself," she called laughingly. "I'm coming."
A breathless pause and the door swung wide. He stared with
eyes amazed and bewitched. There is no more describing the
effects of a harmonious combination of exquisite dress and
exquisite woman than there is reproducing in words the magic
and the thrill of sunrise or sunset, of moonlight's fanciful
amorous play, or of starry sky.
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