In two more minutes they were both safe in our room . Then Jerry threw off Miss Ponsonby 's wraps and stepped back . I know I stared until my eyes stuck out of my head . Was that Miss Ponsonby -- that ! The black lace dress , with the pinkish sheen of its slip beneath , suited her slim shape to perfection and clung around her in lovely , filmy curves that made her look willowy and girlish . It was high-necked , just cut away slightly at the throat , and had great , loose , hanging frilly sleeves of lace . Jerry had shaken out her hair and piled it high on her head in satiny twists and loops , with a pompadour such as Miss Ponsonby could never have thought about . It suited her tremendously and seemed to alter the whole character of her face , giving verve and piquancy to her delicate little features . The excitement had flushed her cheeks into positive pinkness and her eyes were starry . The roses were pinned on her shoulder . Miss Ponsonby , as she stood there , was a pretty woman , with fifteen apparent birthdays the less . `` Oh , Alicia , you look just lovely ! '' I gasped . The name slipped out quite naturally . I never thought about it at all . `` My dear Elizabeth , '' she said , `` it 's like a dream of lost youth . '' We got Jerry ready and then we started for the Hubbards ' , out by our back door and through our neighbour-on-the-left 's lane to avoid all observation . Miss Ponsonby was breathless with terror . She was sure every footstep she heard behind her was her father 's in pursuit . She almost fainted on the spot when a belated man came tearing along the street .
Jerry and I breathed a sigh of devout thanksgiving when we found ourselves safely XXXXX the Hubbard parlour .
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