tumblinas.

In spite of all her prudence, accidents will happen: wine is spilled on her dress, a cigarette burns it; this marks the disappearance of the luxurious and festive creature who bore herself with smiling pride in the ballroom, for she now assumes the serious and severe look of the housekeeper; it becomes all at once evident that her toilette was not a set piece like fireworks, a transient burst of splendor, intended for lavish illumination of a moment. It is rather a rich possession, capital goods and investment; it has meant sacrifice; its loss is a real disaster. Spots, botched dressmaking, bad hairdo’s are catastrophes still more serious than a burnt roast or a broken vase.