Mabel has been plagued by feelings of inferiority practically her whole life, ever since she was a child. And the new dress she's wearing only makes matters worse. There's something about it that's just not right. Mrs. Barnet gives Mabel a none-too-subtle clue that all's not well by handing her a mirror and drawing attention to all the appliances on the dressing-table for improving one's appearance. And when Mabel goes upstairs to catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she's horrified to discover that, no, her new dress doesn't look right at all. What little confidence Mabel had begins to evaporate as she imagines the appalled reactions of other people when they see her rather old-fashioned, pale yellow, silk dress. When Mrs. Dalloway's party finally gets underway, Mabel will devise a highly effective, and somewhat unusual method, of getting through the excruciating social torture. But for now, she's beside herself with insecurity, dread, and much foreboding.
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