Page:Despotism and democracy; a study in Washington society and politics (IA despotismdemocra00seawiala).pdf/193

 It is too well adapted to Mrs. Crane's style for any one else to venture on it."

"I could have worn it thirty years ago," said Mrs. Willoughby, with dangerous candour. "But the fact is, Miss Maitland, all of these men are so absurdly prejudiced in favour of the gown, that they overrate it. After all, the rest of us are fairly well-dressed."

Annette took all this in the spirit of playful compliment in which it was meant, and was flattered by it. Not so Crane. He thought that Annette had, at first, let an ugly cat out of the bag, and secondly, that Mrs. Willoughby was insolent in saying the gown was overrated. But before the dinner was over, his eyes were opened to the fact that Annette had made a most agreeable impression, and every man present admired her, and every woman present liked her.

As soon as the rather short dinner was through, the carriages were called to take the party to the White House. When Crane and Annette were alone in their cab, he said to her:

"It seems to me you made a bad break in saying you made your gown yourself."