““We could come up with a reasonable explanation for your wearing it. Would that help?" wheedled Sophronia. "Justification for my trotting around wearing a lady's undergarments? I hardly see how." Soap's eyes were sparkling with amusement, and Vieve was dimpling openly at the very idea of Pillover in a skirt. Pillover stood holding the petticoat between thumb and forefinger as if it were contaminated with some dreaded chemical. "Go on, pull it on over you clothes and go out there," Sophronia urged. "You could say you were running some experiment dangerous to your nether regions," suggested Vieve. "You could say you were testing the response time of the maid mechanicals," suggested Sophronia. "You could say you like ladies' undergarments," suggested Soap. "I'm doomed." Pillover rolled his eyes and flapped the petticoat.””