It was undoubtedly
"old" for she could not wear it in summer, and next winter the fashion
would change; and it had rained all the morning, so that the air was
damp and cold. Besides, the costume fitted her slender figure to
perfection--it was such a pity that it was old already, for she might
never have another as smart. The least she could do was to try and
wear it out when she had the chance. It was of a delicate fawn colour;
it had no pocket and it was fastened in a mysterious way. The skirt
was particularly successful, and, as has been said, it was short,
which was a great advantage in scrambling about a damp cellar. In
order to show that she was in earnest, she put on russet leather
shoes. Her hat was large, because that was the fashion, but nothing
could have been simpler; it matched the frock in colour, and no colour
was so becoming to her clear girlish pallor and misty hair as light
fawn.
Malipieri had carried out his intention of getting rid of the porter,
and was waiting inside the open postern when the cab drove up.
Hitherto he had only seen Sabina indoors, at luncheon and in the
evening, and when he saw her now he received an altogether new
impression. Somehow, in her walking dress, she seemed more womanly,
more "grown up" as she herself would have called it. As she got out of
the wretched little cab, and came forward to greet him, her grace
stirred his blood.
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