Now , a new dress -- and especially one as nice as this -- was a rarity with Lucinda , who belonged to a branch of the Penhallows noted for being chronically hard up . Indeed , Lucinda and her widowed mother were positively poor , and hence a new dress was an event in Lucinda 's existence . An uncle had given her this one -- a beautiful , perishable thing , such as Lucinda would never have dared to choose for herself , but in which she revelled with feminine delight . It was of pale green voile -- a colour which brought out admirably the ruddy gloss of her hair and the clear brilliance of her skin . When she had finished dressing she looked at herself in the mirror with frank delight . Lucinda was not vain , but she was quite well aware of the fact of her beauty and took an impersonal pleasure in it , as if she were looking at some finely painted picture by a master hand . The form and face reflected in the glass satisfied her . The puffs and draperies of the green voile displayed to perfection the full , but not over-full , curves of her fine figure . Lucinda lifted her arm and touched a red rose to her lips with the hand upon which shone the frosty glitter of Romney 's diamond , looking at the graceful slope of her shoulder and the splendid line of chin and throat with critical approval . She noted , too , how well the gown became her eyes , bringing out all the deeper colour in them . Lucinda had magnificent eyes . Once Romney had written a sonnet to them in which he compared their colour to ripe blueberries . This may not sound poetical to you unless you know or remember just what the tints of ripe blueberries are -- dusky purple in some lights , clear slate in others , and yet again in others the misty hue of early meadow violets . `` You really look very well , '' remarked the real Lucinda to the mirrored Lucinda . `` Nobody would think you were an old maid . But you are . Alice Penhallow , who is to be married to-night , was a child of five when you thought of being married fifteen years ago . That makes you an old maid , my dear . Well , it is your own fault , and it will continue to be your own fault , you stubborn offshoot of a stubborn breed ! '' She flung her train out straight and pulled on her gloves .
`` I do hope I wo n't get any spots XXXXX this dress to-night , '' she reflected .
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