Page:Minnie Flynn (1925).pdf/95

 "I'm all goosefleshy," she said, "I'm that excited."

Eleanor almost ruined the slippers but the dress was long enough to cover them.

"We'll stop at the wardrobe room and ask Skerrit for some jewelry and a fan," she said as she drew Minnie toward the mirror.

The reflection in the mirror dazzled Minnie. How white her shoulders rose above the low cut V. How becoming was that fullness of half-revealed breasts.

"I don't blame you standing there gaping at yourself. You sure look like a different person."

The train was difficult to manage. When Minnie carried it over her arm she was conscious of her mottled slippers; when it swished after her it whipped the floor like the broken wing of a bird.

Mrs. Skerrit gave her a string of pearls the size of mothballs and fastened to her ears large jet pendants. Then she handed her a black ostrich fan.

"You look rich enough to be Mrs. Vanderbilt, herself." It was Mrs. Skerrit's favorite phrase. It meant that she had taken a fancy to Minnie. She liked them bright and eager and appreciative, though she knew Minnie would soon get like the others, bored and ungrateful.

Fortunately for them Letcher hadn't finished checking over the extra people when they returned.

"Well, what do you think of her?" Eleanor said triumphantly, turning Minnie around so Letcher could see her every curve.

Minnie waved her fan and arched her neck in imitation of Eleanor.

Letcher whistled approvingly.

"O. K. for me," he said, giving Minnie's arm a pleasant squeeze. "Some chicken, I'd say. All white meat."