"
"She has two, your grace," Dowie smiled affectionately as she said
it. "One for evening and one for special afternoon wear in case
your grace needed her to attend you for some reason. They are as
plain as she dare make them, but when she puts one on she can't
help giving it A LOOK."
"Yes--she would give it all it needed," her grace said. "Thank
you, Dowie. You may go."
With her sketch of a respectful curtsey Dowie went towards the
door. As she approached it her step became slower; before she
reached it she had stopped and there was a remarkable look on her
face--a suddenly heroic look. She turned and made several steps
backward and paused again which unexpected action caused the Duchess
to turn to glance at her. When she glanced her grace recognized
the heroic look and waited, with a consciousness of some slight
new emotion within herself, for its explanation.
"Your grace," Dowie began, asking God himself to give courage if
she was doing right and to check her if she was making a mistake,
"When your grace was thinking of the parents of other young ladies
and gentlemen--did it come to you to put it to yourself whether
you'd be willing--" she caught her breath, but ended quite
clearly, respectfully, reasonably. "Lady Kathryn--Lord Halwyn--"
Lady Kathryn was the Duchess' young granddaughter, Lord Halwyn
was her extremely good-looking grandson who was in the army.
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