CHAPTER XVI. A DRESS PARADE

THEweeksthatfollowedtaughttheShaws,asmanyotherfamilieshavebeentaught,howrapidlyrichestaketothemselveswingsandflyaway,whentheyoncebegintogo.Mr.Shawcarriedouthisplanswithanenergyandpatiencethatworkedwonders,andtouchedtheheartsofhishardestcreditors.ThebighousewasgivenupassoonaspossibleandthelittlehousetakenbeingmadecomfortablewiththefurnitureMadamlefttherewhenshewenttolivewithherson.Theold-fashionedthingshadbeenletwiththehouse,andnowseemedalmostlikeagiftfromGrandma,doublypreciousinthesetroubloustimes.Attheauction,severalpersonstriedtoshowthefamilythat,thoughtheyhadlosttheirfortune,friendsstillremained,foronebidinFanny'spiano,andsentittoheranothersecuredcertainluxuriousarticlesforMrs.Shaw'scomfortandathirdsavedsuchofMr.Shaw'sbooksashevaluedmost,forhehadkepthiswordandgivenupeverything,withthemostpunctiliousintegrity.Sothelittlehousewasnotbare,butmadepleasanttotheireyesbythesewaifsfromthewreck,broughtthembythetideofsympathyandgood-willwhichsoonsetin.Everybodywhoknewthemhastenedtocall,manyfromarealregard,butmorefrommerecuriosityto“seehowtheytookit.”Thiswasoneofthehardestthingstheyhadtobear,andTomusedstronglanguagemorethanonce,whensomefineladycametocondole,andwentawaytogossip.Polly'shopesofMrs.Shawweredisappointed,formisfortunedidnothaveabracingeffect.Shetooktoherbedatonce,receivedherfriendsintearsandapoint-lacecap,andcheeredherfamilybyplaintivelyinquiringwhenshewastobetakentothealmshouse.ThiswashardforFannybutafteranintervalofdespair,shecametotheconclusionthatunderthecircumstancesitwasthebestthinghermothercouldhavedone,andwithsomethingofherfather'senergy,Fannyshoulderedthenewburden,feelingthatatlastnecessityhadgivenherwhatshehadlongneeded,somethingtodo. ThepoorgirlknewasmuchofhouseholdaffairsasSnipbutprideandtheresolution“tostandbyFather,”keptuphercourage,andsheworkedawaywithfeverishactivityatwhatevertaskcamefirsttill,justasstrengthandheartwereabouttofail,orderbegantoemergefromchaosandthevisionofahomemadehappyandcomfortablebyherskillandcarecametorepayandsustainher. Maud,beingrelievedfromthefearofback-doorbeggary,soonbecamereconciledtobankruptcythoughtitratheragoodjoke,onthewhole,forchildrenlikenovelty,anddon'tcaremuchforMrs.Grundy.Sheregardedthenewabodeasababyhouseonalargescale,whereshewasallowedtoplayherpartinthemostsatisfactorymanner.Fromthemomentwhen,ontakingpossessionofthecovetedroom,sheopenedthedoorsofthethree-corneredcloset,andfoundalittlekettlejustlikePolly's,standingthere,shefeltthatagoodtimewascomingforherandfelltodustingfurniture,washingcups,andmakingtoast,thehappiest,fussiestlittlehousewifeinthecity.ForMaudinheritedthenotablegiftsofhergrandmother,andwouldhavemadeacapitalfarmer'sdaughter,inspiteofhercitybreeding. Pollycameandwentthroughallthesechanges,faithful,helpful,andascheeryasshecouldbewhenherfriendswereintrouble.Thepartsseemedreversednow,anditwasPollywhogave,FannywhoreceivedforwhereeverythingseemedstrangeandnewtoFan,Pollywasquiteathome,andeveryoneoftheunfashionabledomesticaccomplishmentsnowcameintoplay,tothecomfortoftheShaws,andthegreatsatisfactionofPolly.Shecouldnotdoenoughtoprovehergratitudeforformerfavors,andwenttoilingandmoilingabout,feelingthatthehardest,mostdisagreeabletaskswereherespecialduty.Inthemovingnothingsuitedherbetterthantotrotupanddown,luggingheavythings,topoundherfingersblackandbluenailingcarpetsandcurtains,andthedayshenearlybrokehernecktumblingdownthecellarstairs,inhereagernesstoseethatMrs.Shaw'swinewasrightlysto