CHAPTER FIVEThe dinner party, which consisted of a number of young men and only one extra woman, was very amusing.
Josina was feeling particularly happy because Mrs. Meadows had brought her a very pretty evening gown to wear.
“It’s one of her Ladyship’s as she had for her trousseau,” she explained, “but in them days it was a crinoline.”
Josina looked at it somewhat anxiously, but Mrs. Meadows went on,
“The seamstress is very skilful with her needle and she’s drawn back the skirt so that it’s now a fashionable bustle.”
Josina, seeing how it had been altered, gave an exclamation of delight.
“How clever,” she enthused, “and it is such a pretty colour.”
“I just knew it would suit you, Miss Josina,” Mrs. Meadows replied. “Your mother, bless her heart, would have looked ever so lovely in
