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Iquite nice today, I think In fact, I’ue on how black and white is the look at the moment, so I’ve teamed a black pencil skirt with a white shirt I found in the sah heels And I’ve shaded my eyes just like Mona showedBut now, as Elinor surveys htly chipped, and ot a tiny s down from my skirt? Should I quickly try to pull it off?

Casually, I put my hand down on my lap to cover up the loose thread Maybe she didn’t see It’s not that obvious, is it?

But Elinor is silently reaching into her bag, and a moment later she hands me a pair of small silver tortoiseshell-handled scissors

"Oh… er, thanks," I say aardly I snip the offending thread, and hand back the scissors, feeling like a schoolchild "That always happens," I add, and give a nervous little giggle "I look in theand I think I look fine, but then theSlon, Becky

"The English are incapable of good groo," says Elinor "Unless it’s a horse"

The corners of her lips h the rest of her face is static -- and I burst into sycophantic laughter

"That’s really good! My flatlish, aren’t you? And you look absolutely… immaculate!"

I’ed to throw in a little coives ets that impassive scary expression froht," I say "Well, I suppose you’ve been here for a while But I mean, in your heart, aren’t you still… wouldn’t you say you’re a… I lish…"

"I have lived in New York for the majority of my adult life," says Elinor coldly "Any attach disappeared The place is twenty years out of date"

"Right" I nod fervently, trying to look as though I understand co observed under a microscope Why couldn’t Luke have come? Or why couldn’t she have rescheduled? I mean, doesn’t she want to see him?

"Rebecca, who colors your hair?" says Elinor abruptly

"It’s… it’sa strand

"Meione," she echoes suspiciously "I don’t know the name At which salon does she work?"

For a moment I’m completely silenced