Some of the bigger girls, who were
to be Spanish ladies in attendance
upon Queen Isabella, persuaded their
mothers to lend them old evening
gowns. The rest of the clothes we
manufactured ourselves, " by the pure
light of reason," having no models of
any kind to assist or to disturb us.
Happily, there were no Spanish men
49



In Our Convent Days

in the play. Men always gave a good
deal of trouble, because they might
not, under any circumstances, be clad
in male attire. A short skirt, reaching
to the knee, and generally made of a
balmoral petticoat, was the nearest
compromise permitted. Marlow, that
consummate dandy, wore, I remem
ber, a red and black striped skirt,
rubber boots, a black jacket, a high
white collar, and a red cravat. The
cravat was given to Julia Reynolds,
who played the part, by her brother.
It indicated Marlow s sex, and was
considered a little indecorous in its ex
treme mannishness. " They 11 hardly
know what she " (Mrs. Potts) " is
meant for, will they?" asks Mr. Snod-
grass anxiously, when that estimable
lady proposes going to Mrs. Leo
Hunter s fancy ball as Apollo, in a
white satin gown with spangles. To
which Mr. Winkle makes indignant
answer: "Of course they will. They ll
50



The Convent Stage

see her lyre." With the same admi
rable acumen, we who saw Marlow s
cravat recognized him immediately as
a man.
Moors, and Peruvians, and ancient
Romans were more easily attired.
