212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

34 A SHABBY GENTEEL STORY
" For you, my loves, of course !" interposed their mamma.
" Young women of your family and circumstances is not expected to
perform any such work. It's different with Miss Caroline, who, if
she does make herself useful now and then, don't make herself near
so useful as she should, considering that she's not a shilling, and is
living on our charity, like some other folks."
Thus did this amiable woman neglect no opportunity to give her
opinions about her husband and daughter. The former, however,
cared not a straw; and the latter, in this instance, was perfectly
happy. Had not kind Mr. Brandon approved of her work; and
could she ask for more ?
" Mamma may say what she pleases to-day," thought Caroline.
" I am too happy to be made angry by her."
Poor little mistaken Caroline, to think you were safe against
three women ! The dinner had not advanced much fnrther, when
Miss Isabella, who had been examining her younger sister curiously
for some short time, telegraphed Miss Linda across the table, and
nodded, and winked, and pointed to her own neck; a very white
one, as I have before had the honour to remark, and quite without
any covering, except a smart necklace of twenty-four rows of the
lightest blue glass beads, finishing in a neat tassel. Linda had a
similar ornament of a vermilion colour ; whereas Caroline, on this
occasion, wore a handsome new collar up to the throat, and a brooch,
which looked all the smarter for the shabby frock over which they
were placed. As soon as she saw her sister's signals, the poor little
thing, who had only just done fluttering and blushing, fell to this
same work over again. Down went her eyes once more, and her
face and neck lighted up to the colour of Miss Linda's sham
cornelian.
" What's the gals giggling and ogling about ?" said Mr. Gann
innocently.
" What is it, my darling loves ?" said stately Mrs. Gann.
"Why, don't you see, ma?" said Linda. "Look at Miss
Carry ! I'm blessed if she has not got on Becky's collar and brooch
that Sims the pilot gave her !"
The young ladies fell back in uproarious fits of laughter, and
laughed all the time that their mamma was thundering out a speech,
in which she declared that her daughter's conduct was unworthy a
gentlewoman, and bid her leave the room and take off those disgraceful
ornaments.
There was no need to tell her ; the poor little thing gave one
piteous look at her father, who was whistling, and seemed indeed
to think the matter a good joke; and after she had managed to
open the door and totter into the passage, you might have heard