HERE WE ARE AGAIN!
Imogen's frocks for her first season exercised the judgment of her mother and the purse of her grandfather all through the month of March.With Forsyte tenacity Winifred quested for perfection.It took her mind off the slowly approaching rite which would give her a freedom but doubtfully desired;took her mind,too,off her boy and his fast approaching departure for a war from which the news remained disquieting.Like bees busy on summer flowers,or bright gadflies hovering and darting over spiky autumn blossoms,she and her 'little daughter,'tall nearly as herself and with a bust measurement not far inferior,hovered in the shops of Regent Street,the establishments of Hanover Square and of Bond Street,lost in consideration and the feel of fabrics.Dozens of young women of striking deportment and peculiar gait paraded before Winifred and Imogen,draped in 'creations.'The models--'Very new,modom;quite the latest thing--'which those two reluctantly turned down,would have filled a museum;the models which they were obliged to have nearly emptied James'bank.It was no good doing things by halves,Winifred felt,in view of the need for making this first and sole untarnished season a conspicuous success.
Their patience in trying the patience of those impersonal creatures who swam about before them could alone have been displayed by such as were moved by faith.It was for Winifred a long prostration before her dear goddess Fashion,fervent as a Catholic might make before the Virgin;for Imogen an experience by no means too unpleasant--she often looked so nice,and flattery was implicit everywhere:in a word it was 'amusing.'
On the afternoon of the 20th of March,having,as it were,gutted Skywards,they had sought refreshment over the way at Caramel and Baker's,and,stored with chocolate frothed at the top with cream,turned homewards through Berkeley Square of an evening touched with spring.Opening the door--freshly painted a light olive-green;nothing neglected that year to give Imogen a good send-off--Winifred passed towards the silver basket to see if anyone had called,and suddenly her nostrils twitched.What was that scent?