Because of this care it was often full three hours and half
between the entrance of Selina and her own exit, dressed and ready
for the day. And those three hours and a half were the happiest of
her day usually, because they were full of those physical
sensations in which she most delighted. Her first move, after
Selina had awakened her, was to spend half an hour in "getting the
yawns out." She had learned this interesting, pleasant and amusing
trick from a baby in a house where she had once spent a week. She
would extend herself at full length in the bed, and then slowly
stretch each separate muscle of arm and leg, of foot and hand, of
neck and shoulders and waist. This stretching process was
accompanied by a series of prolonged, profound, luxurious yawns.
The yawning exercise completed, she rose and took before a long
mirror a series of other exercises, some to strengthen her waist,
others to keep her back straight and supple, others to make firm
the contour of her face and throat. A half-hour of this, then came
her bath. This was no hurried plunge, drying and away, but a long
and elaborate function at which Selina assisted. There had to be
water of three temperatures; a dozen different kinds of brushes,
soaps, towels and other apparatus participated.
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