After taking a plain white muslin scarf, a pair of light gray kid
gloves, and a garden-hat of Tuscan straw, from the drawers of the
wardrobe, she locked it, and put the key carefully in her pocket.
Instead of at once proceeding to dress herself, she sat idly looking at
the two muslin gowns; careless which she wore, and yet inconsistently
hesitating which to choose. "What does it matter!" she said to herself,
with a reckless laugh; "I am equally worthless in my own estimation,
whichever I put on." She shuddered, as if the sound of her own laughter
had startled her, and abruptly caught up the dress which lay nearest to
her hand. Its colors were blue and white--the shade of blue which best
suited her fair complexion. She hurriedly put on the gown, without going
near her looking-glass. For the first time in her life she shrank
from meeting the reflection of herself--except for a moment, when
she arranged her hair under her garden-hat, leaving the glass again
immediately. She drew her scarf over her shoulders and fitted on her
gloves, with her back to the toilet-table. "Shall I paint?" she asked
herself, feeling instinctively that she was turning pale.
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