Fee’sdresswasofcrepeinapeculiarlyrichshadeofblue-grey，andsuitedher，fallingtothefloorinsoftfolds，lowofnecklinebuttightlysleevedtothewrists，lavishlybeaded，muchinthestyleofQueenMary。Likethatimperiouslady，shehadherhairdonehighinbacksweepingpuffs，andtheGillystorehadproducedanimitationpearlchokerandearringswhichwouldfoolallbutacloseinspection。Amagnificentostrich-featherfandyedthesamecolorashergowncompletedtheensemble，notsoostentatiousasitappearedatfirstglance；theweatherwasunusuallyhot，andatsevenintheeveningitwasstillwelloverahundreddegrees。
WhenFeeandPaddyemergedfromtheirroom，theboysgaped。Inalltheirlivestheyhadneverseentheirparentssoregallyhandsome，soforeign。Paddylookedhissixty-oneyears，butinsuchadistinguishedwayhemighthavebeenastatesman；whereasFeeseemedsuddenlytenyearsyoungerthanherforty-eight，beautiful，vital，magicallysmiling。JimsandPatsyburstintoshriekingtears，refusingtolookatMumandDaddyuntiltheyrevertedtonormal，andintheflurryofconsternationdignitywasforgotten；MumandDaddybehavedastheyalwaysdid，andsoonthetwinswerebeaminginadmiration。
ButitwasatMeggieeveryonestaredthelongest。Perhapsrememberingherowngirlhood，andangeredthatalltheotheryoungladiesinvitedhadorderedtheirgownsfromSydney，theGillydressmakerhadputherheartintoMeggie’sdress。Itwassleevelessandhadalow，drapedneckline；Feehadbeendubious，butMeggiehadimploredandthedressmakerassuredherallthegirlswouldbewearingthesamesortofthing-didshewantherdaughterlaughedatforbeingcountrifiedanddowdy？SoFeehadgiveningracefully。Ofcrepegeorgette，aheavychiffon，thedresswasonlyslightlyfittedatthewaist，butsashedaroundthehipswiththesamematerial。Itwasadusky，palepinkishgrey，thecolorthatinthosedayswascalledashesofroses；betweenthemthedressmakerandMeggiehadembroideredtheentiregownintinypinkrosebuds。AndMeggiehadcutherhairintheclosestwayshecouldtotheshinglecreepingeventhroughtheranksofGillygirls。Itcurledfartoomuchforfashion，ofcourse，butitsuitedherbettershortthanlong。
PaddyopenedhismouthtoroarbecauseshewasnothislittlegirlMeggie，butshutitagainwiththewordsunuttered；hehadlearnedfromthatsceneinthepresbyterywithFranklongago。No，hecouldn’tkeepheralittlegirlforever；shewasayoungwomanandshyoftheamazingtransformationhermirrorhadshownher。Whymakeitharderforthepoorlittlebeggar？Heextendedhishandtoher，smilingtenderly。\"Oh，Meggie，you’resolovely！Comeon，I’mgoingtoescortyoumyself，andBobandJackshalltakeyourmother。\"
Shewasjustamonthshortofseventeen，andforthefirsttimeinhislifePaddyfeltreallyold。Butshewasthetreasureofhisheart；nothingshouldspoilherfirstgrown-upparty。