190 IN THE BIDING- SCHOOL. 



Lady Alice, the dame who hesitated not to 

 snub Florence Bellasis, when snubbing was 

 needful, and who was a mighty huntress. Now 

 everybody wears it, and the full skirts are seen 

 nowhere except in the riding-school dressing- 

 rooms, where they yet linger because they may 

 be worn by anybody, whereas the plain skirt fits 

 but one person. It seems odd that so many 

 years were required to discover that a short 

 skirt, held in place by a strap placed over the 

 right toe and another slipped over the left heel, 

 really protected the feet more than yards of 

 loosely floating cloth, but did not steam and 

 electricity wait for centuries ? Since the new 

 style was generally adopted, Englishwomen allow 

 themselves the luxury of five or six habits, in- 

 stead of the one or two formerly considered 

 sufficient, but each one is worn for several years. 

 When the extravagant wife, in Mrs. Alexander's 

 " A Crooked Path," suggests that she may soon 

 want a new habit, her husband asks indignantly, 

 " Did I not give you one two years ago ? " 



The trousers may match the habit or may be 

 of stockinet, or the imported cashmere tights 

 may be worn. Women who are not fat and 



