Mrs. Bairn

“ We hear them coming, and our hearts begin to beat rather thick. We look at each other, and say softly, “Will it do?” and think we will just de-attitudinise ourselves for a moment, and the statue is in the act of shaking her fist at Leontes, who is grinning in a very unregal manner, when Katy puts in her anxious face between the curtains, and says, “Now!” In an instant the statue folds her arms and fixes her tender gaze, the other figures resume their appropriate attitudes, and the curtain is slowly drawn aside. ”

“ See, girls, isn’t Jenny perfection? Did you ever see anything so like marble?” And Hermione stands complete upon her candle-box, surrounded by a grotesque crew of admirers, in all stages of habille and deshabille. ”

“ We all agree that Katy is the flower of our flock, and never saw the girl who could hold a candle to her. But Katy is not in good humour just at this moment, for the statue will not assume just that position that she considers “the thing.” ”