CHAPTER IX. ISIDORE.

rydressescontinuedtobesupplied:alsomanylittleexpensiveetcetera—gloves,bouquets,eventrinkets.Thesethings,contrarytohercustom,andevennature—forshewasnotsecretive—weremostsedulouslykeptoutofsightforatimebutoneevening,whenshewasgoingtoalargepartyforwhichparticularcareandeleganceofcostumeweredemanded,shecouldnotresistcomingtomychambertoshowherselfinallhersplendour. Beautifulshelooked:soyoung,sofresh,andwithadelicacyofskinandflexibilityofshapealtogetherEnglish,andnotfoundinthelistofcontinentalfemalecharms.Herdresswasnew,costly,andperfect.Isawataglancethatitlackednoneofthosefinishingdetailswhichcostsomuch,andgivetothegeneraleffectsuchanairoftastefulcompleteness. Iviewedherfromtoptotoe.SheturnedairilyroundthatImightsurveyheronallsides.Consciousofhercharms,shewasinherbesthumour:herrathersmallblueeyessparkledgleefully.Shewasgoingtobestowonmeakiss,inherschool-girlfashionofshowingherdelightsbutIsaid,“Steady!LetusbeSteady,andknowwhatweareabout,andfindoutthemeaningofourmagnificence”—andsoputheroffatarm’slength,toundergocoolerinspection. “ShallIdo?”washerquestion. “Do?”saidI.“Therearedifferentwaysofdoingand,bymyword,Idon’tunderstandyours.” “ButhowdoIlook?” “Youlookwelldressed.” Shethoughtthepraisenotwarmenough,andproceededtodirectattentiontothevariousdecorativepointsofherattire.“Lookatthisparure,”saidshe.“Thebrooch,theear-rings,thebracelets:nooneintheschoolhassuchaset—notMadameherself.” “Iseethemall.”(Pause.)“DidM.deBassompierregiveyouthosejewels?” “Myuncleknowsnothingaboutthem.” “WeretheypresentsfromMrs.Cholmondeley?” “Notthey,indeed.Mrs.Cholmondeleyisamean,stingycreatureshenevergivesmeanythingnow.” Ididnotchoosetoaskanyfurtherquestions,butturnedabruptlyaway. “Now,oldCrusty—oldDiogenes”(thesewereherfamiliartermsformewhenwedisagreed),“whatisthematternow?” “Takeyourselfaway.Ihavenopleasureinlookingatyouoryourparure.” Foraninstant,sheseemedtakenbysurprise. “Whatnow,MotherWisdom?Ihavenotgotintodebtforit—thatis,notforthejewels,northegloves,northebouquet.Mydressiscertainlynotpaidfor,butuncledeBassompierrewillpayitinthebill:henevernoticesitems,butjustlooksatthetotalandheissorich,oneneednotcareaboutafewguineasmoreorless.” “Willyougo?Iwanttoshutthedoor….Ginevra,peoplemaytellyouyouareveryhandsomeinthatball-attirebut,inmyeyes,youwillneverlooksoprettyasyoudidintheginghamgownandplainstrawbonnetyouworewhenIfirstsawyou.” “Otherpeoplehavenotyourpuritanicaltastes,”washerangryreply.“And,besides,Iseenorightyouhavetosermonizeme.” “Certainly!Ihavelittlerightandyou,perhaps,havestilllesstocomeflourishingandflutteringintomychamber—amerejayinborrowedplumes.Ihavenottheleastrespectforyourfeathers,MissFanshaweandespeciallythepeacock’seyesyoucallaparure:veryprettythings,ifyouhadboughtthemwithmoneywhichwasyourown,andwhichyoucouldwellspare,butnotatallprettyunderpresentcircumstances.” “OnestlàpourMademoiselleFanshawe!”wasannouncedbytheportress,andawayshetripped. Thissemi-mysteryoftheparurewasnotsolvedtilltwoorthreedaysafterwards,whenshecametomakeavoluntaryconfession. “Youneednotbesulkywithme,”shebegan,“intheideathatIamrunningsomebody,papaorM.deBassompierre,deeplyintodebt.Iassureyounothingremainsunpaidfor,butthefewdressesIhavelatelyhad:alltherestissettled.” “There,”Ithought,“liesthemysteryconsideringthattheywerenotgivenyoubyMrs.Cholmondeley,andthatyourownmeansarelimitedtoafewshillings,ofwhichIknowyoutobeexcessivelycareful.” “Ecoutez!”shewenton,drawingnearandspeakinginhermostconfidentialandcoaxingtoneformy“sulkiness”wasinconvenienttoher:shelikedmetobeinatalkingandlisteningmood,evenifIonlytalkedtochideandlistenedtorail.“Ecoutez,chèregrogneuse!Iwilltellyouallhowandaboutitandyouwillthensee,notonlyhowrightthewholethingis,buthowcleverlymanaged.Inthefirstplace,Imustgoout.PapahimselfsaidthathewishedmetoseesomethingoftheworldheparticularlyremarkedtoMrs.Cholmondeley,that,thoughIwasasweetcreatureenough,Ihadratherabread-and-butter-eating,school-girlairofwhichitwashisspecialdesirethatIshouldgetrid,byanintroductiontosocietyhere,beforeImakemyregulardébutinE