Page:Once a Week, Series 1, Volume II Dec 1859 to June 1860.pdf/461

448 1 Now, at that very hour there was to be a great choral festivity in the neighbourhood of London, at which certain of the Orleanist Princesses were to assist, with their attendant ladies. It was therefore arranged that at 1 precisely all the Orleans ladies were to make their appearance in public, each one wearing a chapeau rose, as conceived by Madame B. At 1.15  the intelligence would be telegraphed to Paris; but by the time the contents of the telegram could be spread about that capital, the Empress would be fairly en route for the military solemnity at Satory. It would be too late! This remarkable conspiracy was actually carried out: and although super-human efforts were made by the French Court to hush it up, all that could be accomplished was to keep all mention of it out of the French papers.

We instantly concluded the purchase of the pink bonnet which figured in so remarkable a manner in cotemporarycontemporary [sic] history; and whilst Flora withdrew into some inner sanctum sanctorum, where her pattern was to be rectified, I was amused by the endeavours of a stout, and—may I say it?—rather vulgar lady, to make a strange looking black mantilla, which, as it appeared, was now in great vogue, look as well upon her cob-like figure as it did upon that of the tall, graceful, elegant being who was attached to Madame S.’s establishment for the sole purpose of trying on mantillas, cloaks, and other drapery of the like description, between two huge cheval glasses.

“You see, madam, that the waggoner’s piece should fit tight to the shoulders. It can be put in plaits at the waist; then there’s a ribbon inside attached, which is drawn round the waist, and fastened, so; and then a lady’s figure is shown in its full perfection. It will just become you, madam. Or it may hang full from the waist to the ground in graceful folds.”

As she uttered these little phrases, the young lady who tried on the cloaks moved about in a graceful sinuous manner—now glancing slightly over one shoulder, now over the other—and smiling at Mrs. Moppen—for such was the name of the stout customer—in an affable and condescending manner. Mrs. M. was finally induced to try on one of these mantillas, and she certainly did present rather a remarkable contrast to the lithe young lady with the great natural advantages. It was very funny to watch them as they swam about like rival dancers before the cheval glasses. Certainly, had justice been done, Mrs. M. would not have received the largest number of bouquets upon this occasion. Little did I think, whilst I was indulging in internal mirth at her uncouth attempts at grace, that Mrs. M.’s presence in the atéliers of the distinguished modiste on the day in question would exercise so great an influence upon my own career.

Flora came out from the inner room just at the