“Who is to be Portia?”

“Theresa Stanfield, I believe.”

“That will do very well, I should think.  She is fair—­suppose we dress her in this purple brocade.”

“Was Portia married in purple?” said Preston.

Mrs. Sandford laughed a good deal.  “Well”—­she said—­“white if you like; but Theresa will look most like Portia if she wears this brocade.  I do not believe white is de rigueur in her case.  You know, she went from the casket scene to the altar.  If she was like me, she did not venture to anticipate good fortune by putting on a bridal dress till she knew she would want it.”

“Perhaps that is correct,” said Preston.

“How come you to know so much about the dresses?” said the lady.  “That is commonly supposed to be woman’s function.”

“I am general manager, Mrs. Sandford, and obliged to act out of character.”

“You seem to understand yourself very well.  Priscilla!—­we have no dress for her.”

“It will have to be made.”

“Yes.  Who is there to make it?”

The seamstress was now summoned, and the orders were given for Priscilla’s dress, to be made to fit Daisy.  It was very amusing, the strait-cut brown gown, the plain broad vandyke of white muslin, and etceteras that Mrs. Sandford insisted on.

“She will look the part extremely well.  But are you going to give her nothing but Fortitude and Prudence, Preston? is Daisy to do nothing gayer?”

“Yes ma’am—­she is to be the queen of the Persian king here—­what is his name?  Ahasuerus!  She is Esther.”

Daisy opened her lips to say no, but Preston got her into his arms and softly put his hand upon her mouth before she could speak the word.  The action was so coaxing and affectionate, that Daisy stood still, silent, with his arms round her.

“Queen Esther!” said Mrs. Sandford.  “That will tax the utmost of our resources.  Mrs. Randolph will lend us some jewels, I hope, or we cannot represent that old Eastern court.”

“Mrs. Randolph will lend us anything—­and everything,” said Preston.

“Then we can make a beautiful tableau.  I think Esther must be in white.”

“Yes ma’am—­it will lend to the fainting effect.”

“And we must make her brilliant with jewels; and dress her attendants in colours, so as to set her off; but Esther must be a spot of brilliancy.  Ahasuerus rich and heavy.  This will be your finest tableau, if it is done well.”

“Alfred will not be bad,” said Preston.

“In another line.  Your part will be easy, Daisy—­you must have a pair of strong-armed handmaidens.  What do you want Nora for, Preston?”

“Could she be one of them, Mrs. Sandford?”

“Yes,—­if she can be impressed with the seriousness of the occasion; but the maids of the queen ought to be wholly in distress for their mistress, you know.  She could be one of the princes in the tower, very nicely.”