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stopped in front of the picture of Caroline de Winter.
sleeves and a long, full skirt. Her hair was in curls. I would have
to wear a wig
6
over my own straight hair. I felt very excited. I
was glad that I had chosen my costume at last. I said nothing to
Maxim. The next day I made a sketch of the picture. Then I sent
the drawing to the shop in London with careful instructions about
the dress and the wig.
The preparations for the great day went on. No one expected
me to do anything. Slowly, the great house began to change.
Furniture was moved as the great hall was prepared for dancing.
Coloured lights were hung in the trees outside. There were flowers
everywhere. Hundreds of them were brought in from the garden
and Mrs Danvers knew exactly how to arrange them. Manderley
took on a new beauty. I had never seen the old house looking so
lovely.
15
'Miss Caroline de Winter'
O
n the day of the Ball, Maxim and I had lunch with Frank. My
dress and the wig had arrived and they both looked perfect.
Maxim and Frank asked me about my costume but I told them
nothing. The secret made me feel excited and important.
'You won't know it's me,' I told them. 'You will both have the
surprise of your lives.'
Maxim and I went back to the house after lunch. The band
had arrived and we welcomed the men. The afternoon seemed
very long. I thought about going for a walk. Then suddenly, it
was tea-time and Beatrice and her husband, Giles, had arrived.
'This is like old times,' said Beatrice, looking around. 'Every-
thing is as beautiful as ever. What's everyone going to wear? I
suppose you refuse to wear fancy dress, Maxim?'
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'Of course,' Maxim said. 'I prefer to be comfortable.'
'I'm going to dress as an Arab,' said Giles. 'I got the idea from
a friend.'
'What about you, Mrs Lacy?' Frank said to Beatrice.
'I'm in Eastern dress, too. I'm wearing a veil and lots of
jewellery. I'll be cool and comfortable. That's all that matters.'
Beatrice turned to me.
'And what is our hostess
1
going to wear?' she asked. 'The Ball
is for you, after all. We all expect you to wear something really
special.'
'Don't ask her,' said Maxim. 'She won't tell anyone. She's
had the dress made in London.'
'It's quite simple really,' I said.
'What fun it all is,' said Beatrice. 'I'm getting excited already.'
'You've got her to thank for it,' said Maxim, smiling at me.
Everyone looked at me and smiled. I felt pleased and happy.
This Ball was for me because I was a bride, the new Mrs de Winter.
Manderley had been made into a place of light and beauty, just
for me.
'What's the time?' I said. 'I think we ought to be getting
ready.'
I found Clarice waiting for me in my bedroom, her face full
of excitement. I locked the door and took the dress from its box.
It fitted perfectly. I looked at myself in the mirror. I smiled. I felt
different already. I was someone more exciting and interesting
than my usual self.
'Give me the wig, Clarice,' I said. 'Be careful, the curls
mustn't be flat.'
I brushed back my own straight hair. Carefully, I put the wig in
place. I looked in the mirror again. The wig and the tightly fitting
6
dress made me almost beautiful.
'Oh, Clarice,' I said. 'What will Mr de Winter say?'
There was a knock on the door.
'Who's there?' I called. 'You can't come in.'
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'It's me, my dear,' said Beatrice. 'Are you ready? I want to
have a look at you.'
'No, no,' I said, 'you can't come in. Tell Maxim that he can't
come in either. I'll come down when I'm ready.'
I looked in the mirror again. My eyes looked larger and the
curls made a soft cloud round my head. I lifted the skirt of the dress
in my hands.
'Unlock the door,' I said to Clarice. 'I'm going down.'
I stood in the gallery and looked down on the hall below.
There was Giles in his white Arab costume. Beatrice was
wearing a long green dress. Frank was dressed as a sailor. Only
Maxim was wearing evening clothes.
'I don't know what she's doing,' I heard Maxim say. 'What's the
time, Frank? She must be down soon.'
I looked up at the picture of Caroline de Winter. Yes, her dress
was exactly like mine and she had the same curled hair. The band
was playing softly in the gallery.
'Beat the drum,' I said, 'and call out: Miss Caroline de
Winter.'
The drum sounded. Everyone looked up.
'Miss Caroline de Winter,' the man shouted.
I stood at the top of the stairs, smiling. I expected everyone to
laugh and clap as I walked down the stairs.
Nobody laughed. Nobody clapped. They all stared at me
without moving. I smiled at Maxim.
'How do you do, Mr de Winter?' I said.
Maxim stared up at me. His face was completely white.
Something was wrong. Why was Maxim looking like that? He
moved towards the stairs.
'What the hell
3
do you think you're doing?' he said.
His eyes were on fire with anger.
'It's the picture,' I said. 'The one in the gallery.'
There was a long silence. Still nobody moved.
'What is it?' I said. 'What have I done?'
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