Read Devil's Wind for Free Online Page B

straight to the dressing-table, and as she went the white crepe shawl slid from her shoulders, and left them bare.
    Adela let it lie, tilted the glass, and for a long moment she stood and looked at her own reflection. Then she stretched out her hand, and pulling one of the green blinds sharply aside, let in the first grey light, that was scarcely daylight yet. It struck full upon her face, but glow and colour, warmth of hair and skin, were proof against its disillusioning touch, and Adela, smiling, let the blind swing back, and turned to pick up her shawl. She met Helen’s half-sarcastic look.
    â€œI wanted to see if I looked as dreadful as all the other women did, when they came out into this odious light,” she said, and gave a little yawn. “You should have seen Bella Wilson. She looked forty!”
    â€œPerhaps she is forty,” said Helen lazily.
    â€œIf she could hear you! But I don’t look bad, do I?”
    â€œMy dear Adela, do you imagine I am going to pay you compliments at four in the morning. That, my child, is not what I kept awake for.”
    â€œWell, I’m sure no one asked you to keep awake,” retorted Adela.
    She unclasped the string of pearls which was her only ornament, and said coaxingly, “You might say I look nice. Really you might, Nellie.”
    â€œDon’t call me ‘Nellie’ then,” said Helen, laughing. Her heart was full of something like worship for her beautiful cousin; some of it came into her eyes, but her voice was cool and teasing as she added,
    â€œYou look quite—nice—Adie.”
    Adela turned away pettishly, and laid her necklet down on the dressing-table.
    â€œThese wretched pearls seem to get smaller and smaller,” she said, and Helen laughed again.
    â€œThat is because you have been looking at Hetty’s jewels. You weren’t here when Aunt Harriet gave us the whole list of them. Aunt Lucy and I took turns to say ‘How lovely,’ till I felt as if I were repeating the responses in church. Some day, if I am very good, Hetty will ask me to tea, and show me some of them. Do you think I can live up to it? What did she wear to-night? And how did she look?”
    â€œHow does Hetty always look?” said Adela scornfully.
    She came across to the bedside, and knelt down.
    â€œUndo me, will you? And it’s all pins, so be careful, or the blonde will tear. Oh, Helen!” she pursued with energy, “do you remember a dress I had last year? No, I don’t believe you ever saw it, for that idiot Emma hung it too close to the fire, and it caught, and was ruined. I had only worn it twice, and I was so angry. Emma had no thought for any one but herself. She said her mother was ill, or something. She was a stupid creature. Well, it was a very pretty dress, white illusion and forget-me-nots, you know the sort of thing. Would you believe it—Hetty must have copied it! Hetty!”
    â€œAdela, do keep still.”
    â€œShe had it on to-night. Imagine my fury. I must say Aunt Harriet or some one might tell Hetty how perfectly hideous she looks in white. And she had got forget-me-nots all the wrong colour—like cornflowers, and nearly as big. Oh, Helen, you are pricking me! There’s another pin on the shoulder.”
    â€œAll right, I’ve got it. Yes, Hetty is lumpy.”
    â€œAnd her nose,” said Adela in an animated tone. “It always was flat, but I never knew how flat a snub nose could look, till I saw Hetty with a tiara.”
    Helen burst out laughing.
    â€œDid Hetty wear her tiara on her nose? Is that the latest fashion? And how did she keep it on? Now, Adela, if anything tore then, it was your fault, and not mine. There, that’s done, and don’t let us talk about Hetty any more. It is really too dull. Whom did you see?”
    Adela got up, and hung her bodice over the back of a chair. Then she
slipped out of the full skirt, and stood up small and slim in a