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           NeverhaveIseenherlooksolovely,orsodistinguished.Shewaswearingasatindressofsky-blue—myfavouritecolour—andapieceoflace,whichMrs.Jameslenther,roundtheshoulders,togiveafinish.Ithoughtperhapsthedresswasalittletoolongbehind,anddecidedlytooshortinfront,butMrs.Jamessaiditwasàlamode.Mrs.Jameswasmostkind,andlentCarrieafanofivorywithredfeathers,thevalueofwhich,shesaid,waspriceless,asthefeathersbelongedtotheKachueagle—abirdnowextinct.IpreferredthelittlewhitefanwhichCarrieboughtforthree-and-sixatShoolbred’s,butbothladiessatonmeatonce.

           WearrivedattheMansionHousetooearly,whichwasratherfortunate,forIhadanopportunityofspeakingtohislordship,whograciouslycondescendedtotalkwithmesomeminutes;butImustsayIwasdisappointedtofindhedidnotevenknowMr.Perkupp,ourprincipal.

           IfeltasifwehadbeeninvitedtotheMansionHousebyonewhodidnotknowtheLordMayorhimself.Crowdsarrived,andIshallneverforgetthegrandsight.Myhumblepencanneverdescribeit.IwasalittleannoyedwithCarrie,whokeptsaying:“Isn’titapitywedon’tknowanybody?”

           Onceshequitelostherhead.IsawsomeonewholookedlikeFranching,fromPeckham,andwasmovingtowardshimwhensheseizedmebythecoat-tails,andsaidquiteloudly:“Don’tleaveme,”whichcausedanelderlygentleman,inacourt-suit,andachainroundhim,andtwoladies,toburstoutlaughing.