She had thought all this up before. I had to think hard on the spur of the moment.
“You remember so well.” I was ready now.
“I trust you are well along toward your goal?” Her mouth took the wormlike twist I had seen on the face of her mother.
“It’s another hard row to hoe. You might help me along, if you choose.”
“How could I? The mere wife of an ‘Honorable’?”
“I would like to make a reputation as a great modiste. When the ladies of fashion flock to me, I will, of course, find opportunities for further advancement. If I could start out by working a miracle—say, on you, Mrs. Terrance—choosing colors for you that harmonize instead of fight—jewels in good taste instead of gaudy—making you look as though you had lost two stone in weight—and my crowning achievement, putting collars on you
