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sweetly pronounced； drew open our drawer； as it might be； instinctively。
Two or three dozen of us； all of exquisite fineness； were laid upon the
counter； myself and two or three more of the better class being kept a
little in the back ground； as a skillful general holds his best troops in
reserve。
｛couturieres = dress makers； niaisiries = should read niaiseries； French
for silliness｝
The customers were sisters； that was visible at a glance。 Both were
pretty； almost beautifuland there was an air of simplicity about their
dress； a quiet and unobtrusive dignity in their manners； which at once
announced them to be real ladies。 Even the tones of their voices were
polished； a circumstance that I think one is a little apt to notice in New
York。 I discovered； in the course of the conversation； that they were the
daughters of a gentleman of very large estate； and belonged to the true
elite of the country。 The manner in which the clerks received them；
indeed； proclaimed this； for； though their other claims might not have so
promptly extracted this homage； their known wealth would。
Mr。 Bobbinet attended these customers in person。 Practiced in all that
portion of human knowledge which appertains to a salesman； he let the
sweet girls select two or three dozen handkerchiefs of great beauty； but
totally without ornament； and even pay for them； before he said a word
on the subject of the claims of his reserved corps。 When he thought the
proper moment had arrived； however； one of the least decorated of our
party was offered to the consideration of the young ladies。 The sisters
were named Anne and Maria； and I could see by the pleasure that
beamed in the soft blue eyes of the former； that she was quite enchanted
with the beauty of the article laid before her so unexpectedly。 I believe it
is in FEMALE 〃human nature〃 to admire every thing that is graceful and
handsome； and especially when it takes the form of needle…work。 The
sweet girls praised handkerchief after handkerchief； until I was laid
before them； when their pleasure extracted exclamations of delight。 All
was done so quietly； however； and in so lady…like a manner； that the
attention of no person in the shop was drawn to them by this natural
indulgence of surprise。 Still I observed that neither of the young lades
inquired the PRICES； these being considerations that had no influence
on the intrinsic value； in their eyes； while the circumstance caused my
heart to sink within me； as it clearly proved they did not intend to
purchase； and I longed to become the property of the gentle； serene…
eyed Anne。 After thanking Mr。 Bobbinet for the trouble he had taken；
they ordered their purchases sent home； and were about to quit the
shop。
〃Can't I persuade you to take THIS？〃 demanded Bobbinet； as they
were turning away。 There is not its equal in America。 Indeed； one of the
house； our Colonel Silky； who has just returned from Paris； says it was
worked expressly for the dauphine； who was prevented from getting it
by the late revolution。〃
〃It IS a pity so much lace and such exquisite work should be put on a
pocket…handkerchief；〃 said Anne； almost involuntarily。 〃I fear if they
were on something more suitable； I might buy them。〃
A smile； a slight blush； and curtsy； concluded the interview； and the
young ladies hastily left the shop。 Mr。 Bobbinet was disappointed； as；
indeed； was Col。 Silky； who was present； en amateur； but the matter
could not be helped； as these were customers who acted and thought
for themselves； and all the oily persuasion of shop…eloquence could not
influence them。
｛en amateur = in the guise of a connoisseur｝
〃It is quite surprising； colonel；〃 observed Mr。 Bobbinet； when his
customers were properly out of hearing； 〃that THESE young ladies
should let such an article slip through their fingers。 Their father is one of
the richest men we have； and yet they never even asked the price。〃
〃I fancy it was not so much the PRICE that held 'em back；〃 observed
the colonel； in his elegant way； as something else。 There are a sort of
customers that don't buy promiscuously； they do every thing by rule。
They don't believe that a nightcap is intended for a bed…quilt。〃
Bobbinet & Co。 did not exactly understand his more sophisticated
partner； but before he had time to ask an explanation； the appearance
of another customer caused his face to brighten； and changed the
current of his thoughts。 The person who now entered was an
exceedingly brilliant looking girl of twenty； dressed in the height of
fashion； and extremely well； though a severe critic might have thought
she was OVER dressed for the streets； still she had alighted from a
carriage。 Her face was decidedly handsome； and her person exquisitely
proportioned。 As a whole； I had scarcely ever seen a young creature
that could lay claim to more of the loveliness of her sex。 Both the young
ladies who had just left us were pleasing and pretty； and to own the
truth； there was an air of modest refinement about them； that was not so
apparent in this new visiter； but the dazzling appearance of the latter； at
first； blinded me to her faults； and I saw nothing but her perfection。 The
interest manifested by the masterI beg his pardon； the boss of the
storeand the agitation among the clerks； very plainly proved that much
was expected from the visit of this young lady； who was addressed；
with a certain air of shop…familiarity； as Miss Halfacrea familiarity that
showed she was an habituee of the place； and considered a good
customer。
Luckily for the views of Bobbinet & Co。； we were all still lying on the
counter。 This is deemed a fortunate circumstance in the contingencies of
this species of trade； since it enables the dealer to offer his uncalled…for
wares in the least suspicious and most natural manner。 It was fortunate；
also； that I lay at the bottom of the little pilea climax being quite as
essential in sustaining an extortionate price； as in terminating with due
effect； a poem； a tragedy； or a romance。
〃Good morning； Miss Halfacre；〃 said Mr。 Bobbinet； bowing and
smiling； if his face had been half as honest as it professed to be； it would
have GRINNED。 〃I am glad you have come in at this moment； as we
are about to put on sale some of the rarest articles； in the way of
pocket…handkerchiefs； that have ever come to this market。 The Misses
Burton have just seen them； and THEY pronounce them the most
beautiful articles of the sort they have ever seen； and I believe they have
been over half the world。〃
〃And did they take any； Mr。 Bobbinet？ The Miss Burtons are thought
to have taste。〃
〃They have not exactly PURCHASED； but I believe each of them has a
particular article in her eye。 Here is one； ma'am； that is rather prettier
than any you have yet seen in New York。 The price is SIXTY dollars。〃
The word SIXTY was emphasized in a way to show the importance
that was attached to PRICEthat being a test of more than common
importance with the present customer。 I sighed when I remembered that
poor Adrienne had received but about ten dollars for MEan article
worth so much more than that there exhibited。
〃It is really very pretty； Mr。 Bobbinet；