Chapter 14 - Page 2

Mrs. Monson,
smiling, for she saw that Julia was too much mortified to speak, and
who assumed more than half the blame of her own daughter's
extravagance. "You were about to favor us with some magnificent
resolution."

"I was about to utter an impertinence, I confess, ma'am, but recollected
in time, that young men's protestations of what THEY would do by way
of reforming the world, is not of half the importance to others that they
so often fancy; so I shall spare you the infliction. Seventy-five dollars,
Mademoiselle Hennequin, would be a high price for such a thing, even
in Paris, I fancy."

The answer was given in imperfect English, a circumstance that
rendered the sweet round tones of the speaker very agreeable to the
ear, and lent the charm of piquancy to what she said. I could not
distinguish countenances from the drawer, but I fancied young
Shoreham to be a handsome youth, the governess to be pale and
slightly ugly, though very agreeable in manner, and Julia excessively
embarrassed, but determined to defend her purchase, should it become
necessary.

"Seventy-five dollars sound like a high price, monsieur," answered
Mademoiselle Hennequin; "but the ladies of Paris do not grudge their
gold for ornaments to decorate their persons."

"Ay," put in John Monson, "but they are consistent. Now I'll engage this
Mrs. Hundredacres, or Halfacre, or whatever her name may be,
overlooked her own household work, kept no housekeeper, higgled
about flour and butter, and lived half her time in her basement. Think of
such a woman's giving her daughter a hundred-dollar pocket-
handkerchief."

Now Mrs. Monson DID keep a housekeeper; she was NOT a mere
upper-servant in her own family, and Julia was gratified that, in this
instance, her fastidious brother could not reproach HER at least.

"Well, Jack, that is a queer reason of yours;" cried the father, "for not
indulging in a luxury; because the good woman is careful in some things,
she is not to be a little extravagant in others. What do YOU say to such
logic, Mr. Shoreham?"

"To own the truth, sir, I am much of Monson's way of thinking. It is as
necessary to begin at the bottom in constructing a scheme of domestic
refinement, as in building a house. Fitness is entitled to a place in every
thing that relates to taste, at all events; and as a laced and embroidered
pocket-handkerchief is altogether for appearance, it becomes necessary
that other things should be in keeping. If the ladies will excuse me, I will
say that I never yet saw a woman in America, in a sufficiently high dress
to justify such an appendage as that which Monson has just mentioned.