She 's about my height and figure . I 'm determined that poor soul shall have a dissipation for once in her life since she hankers for it . Come on now , Elizabeth . It will be a lark . '' I caught Jerry 's enthusiasm , and while she hunted out the box containing the black lace dress , I hastily gathered together some other odds and ends I thought might be useful -- a black aigrette , a pair of black silk gloves , a spangled gauze fan , and a pair of slippers . They would n't have stood daylight , but they looked all right after night . As we left the room I caught up some pale pink roses on my table . We pushed through a little gap in the privet hedge and found ourselves under the acacia tree with Miss Ponsonby peering anxiously at us from above . I wanted to shriek with laughter , the whole thing seemed so funny and unreal . Jerry , although she has n't climbed trees since she was twelve , went up that acacia as nimbly as a pussy-cat , took the box and things from me , passed them to Miss Ponsonby , and got in at the window while I went back to my own room to dress , hoping old Mr. Ponsonby would n't be running out to ring the fire alarm . In a very short time I heard Miss Ponsonby and Jerry at the opposite window , and I rushed to mine to see the sight . But Miss Ponsonby , with a red fascinator over her head and a big cape wrapped round her , slipped out of the window and down that blessed acacia tree as neatly and nimbly as if she had been accustomed to doing it for exercise every day of her life . There were possibilities in Miss Ponsonby . 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 XXXXX her delicate little features .
around at in of on out to under until while