– Of course you will marry, dear Miss Vivian! To a very rich and noble man, no less! – said Jane with sincere faith in her words.

– I thought you despised the Frenchwoman for hoping to lure a rich man into her net, but you hope to do the same for me? – Vivian chuckled and pulled away from her. – How contradictory you are, my dear friend!

– Come, Miss Vivian, the "French rat" is a dry rose compared to you! And you're as beautiful as the world has ever seen. Not only I think so, but all the servants of Greenhall! – The maid smiled broadly. – The Frenchwoman has no chance with the Duke of Nightingale, but you do!

– Do you think so? – Vivian gave her a wink, but then added sadly: – 'Alas, he is beyond my reach: why should he want me, beautiful but poor, when he can marry the daughter of some earl or duke and double his fortune?

– But you…

– No, no, Jane, I cannot waste my time in the vain pursuit of an unattainable bridegroom. But do not think that I do not detract from my charm, and I know very well that sometimes beauty wins even the hearts of kings and emperors.

– But then who have you got in mind? – Jane asked.

– I have no one in mind for my future spouse, for the only man I know who is a member of high society is my cousin. I had planned to find my victim at the ball tonight…" Vivian sighed, and a painful smile appeared on her lips, "but God must have other plans for me… I think he is punishing me for falling asleep during Sunday services.

The girls laughed quietly, but suddenly there was a loud knock at the door, and Lady Cranford entered Vivian's chamber uninvited. She was ready for her imminent departure: she was wearing a beautiful black silk dress, with long black gloves on her hands, her hair was elegantly coiffed and feathered, and she had a broad, happy smile on her lips.

– Your dresses are found, my dear! – she exclaimed.

Jane jumped up from the bed and made an awkward curtsy: oh, lest her mistress should think she thought she was her niece's friend!

But Lady Cranford did not even glance in her direction; she came quickly to her niece and, seizing her by the arms, almost forcibly seated her at the dressing-table.

– There is no time to lose- Oh, my dear, have you been crying? In vain: your eyes are puffy and your cheeks are red… You'll need powder.

Vivian had not expected such a sudden turn of events and was discouraged by her aunt's persistent and strange behaviour.

– Had the dresses been found? But where are they? – she asked the countess absent-mindedly.

– They will be brought in a few minutes," she replied, and began to take out the pins from her niece's high hair. – In the meantime, you take care of your hair: this one is no good....

– But, auntie, I won't have time…

– Don't forget: for your debut, wear a white dress and white gloves above the elbow…

– Auntie! There's so little time.

– You don't need much jewellery. But take that bird chain off your neck, it's too simple. You have more expensive jewellery, don't you? If not, I'll bring my own.

– Thank you, but I have more colourful jewellery in that box over there. – Vivian was confused: she had only fifty minutes to go to the ball! Didn't her aunt realise that in that time it was impossible to choose and put on a dress, shoes and gloves, to do her hair and powder her face? She will not go to the ball!

Lady Cranford opened her jewellery box, went through it in silence, and held out to her niece a short string of dazzling white pearl beads.

– Do you have earrings or clips like that? – she asked Vivian.