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while he is agreeable； well…looking； and thoroughly amiable。 He met us
abroad； and it is natural for him to keep up an intimacy that recalls
pleasant recollections。 You will remember； Mary； that before he can be
accused of trifling； he must trifle。 I think him far more attentive to my
mother； my fathernay； to my two little sistersthan he is to ME。 Even
Mademoiselle Hennequin is quite as much if not more of a favorite than
I am！〃
As Mary Warren saw that her friend was serious she changed the
subject； soon after； we were set down at Mr。 Monson's door。 Here the
friends parted； Mary Warren preferring to walk home； while Julia and I
entered the house together。
〃Well； mother；〃 cried Julia； as she entered Mrs。 Monson's room； 〃I have
found the most beautiful thing you ever beheld； and have bought it。 Here
it is； what do you think of my choice？〃
Mrs。 Monson was a kind…hearted； easy； indulgent parent； who had
brought her husband a good fortune； and who had married rich in the
bargain。 Accustomed all her life to a free use of money； and of her own
money； too； （for this is a country in which very many persons cast the
substance of OTHERS right and left；） and when her eldest daughter
expressed a wish to possess an elaborate specimen of our race； she had
consented from a pure disinclination to deny her child any gratification
that might be deemed innocent。 Still； she knew that prudence was a
virtue； and that Julia had thrown away money that might have been
much better employed。
〃This is certainly a very beautiful handkerchief；〃 observed the mother；
after examining me carefully； and with somewhat of the manner of a
connoisseur； 〃surprisingly beautiful； and yet I almost wish； my child； you
had not purchased it。 A hundred dollars sounds frightfully en prince for
us poor simple people； who live in nutshells of houses； five and twenty
feet front； and fifty…six deep； to pay for a pocket…handkerchief。 The
jewel…box of a young lady who has such handkerchiefs ought to cost
thousands； to be in keeping。〃
｛en prince = princely； nutshells of houses = Cooper was frequently
critical of New York City's cramped townhouses｝
〃But； mother； I have only ONE； you will remember； and so my jewels
may be limited to hundreds。〃
〃ONE pocket…handkerchief has a mean； sound； too。 Even one hat is not
very superfluous。〃
〃That is SO like Mary Warren； mother。 If you did not wish me to make
the purchase； you had only to say it； I am sure your wish would have
been my law。〃
〃I know it； love； and I am afraid it is your dutiful behavior that has made
me careless； in this instance。 Your happiness and interests are ever
uppermost in my mind； and sometimes they seem to conflict。 What
young man will dare to choose a wife from among young ladies who
expend so much money on their pocket…handkerchiefs？〃
This was said smilingly； but there was a touch of tenderness and natural
concern in the voice and manner of the speaker that made an
impression on the daughter。
〃I am afraid now； mother； you are thinking of Betts Shoreham；〃 said
Julia； blushing； though she struggled powerfully to appear unconcerned。
〃I do not know WHY it is； but both you and Mary Warren appear to
be always thinking of Mr。 Shoreham。〃
The mother smiled； and she was not quite ingenuous when she said in
answer to the remark；
〃Shoreham was not in my mouth； and you ought not to suppose he was
in my mind。 Nevertheless； I do not believe he would admire you； or any
one else； the more for being the owner of so expensive an article of
dress。 He is wealthy； but very prudent in his opinions and habits。〃
〃Betts Shoreham was born to an estate； and his father before him；〃 said
Julia firmly； 〃and such men know how to distinguish between the cant of
economy； and those elegancies of life that become people of
refinement。〃
〃No one can better understand the difference between cant in economy
as well as cant in some other things； and true taste as well as true
morals； than young Shoreham； but there are indulgences that become
persons in no class。〃
〃After all； mother； we are making a trifle a very serious matter。 It is but
a pocket…handkerchief。〃
〃Very true； my love； and it cost ONLY one hundred dollars； and so
we'll say no more about it； bien entendu； that you are not to purchase
six dozen at the same price。〃
｛bien entendu = it being understood｝
This terminated the dialogue； Julia retiring to her own room； carrying me
with her。 I was thrown upon the bed； and soon after my mistress
opened a door； and summoned her two younger sisters； who were
studying on the same floor； to join her。 I shall not repeat all the delightful
exclamations； and other signs of approbation； that so naturally escaped
the two pretty little creatures； to whom I may be said to have now been
introduced； when my beauty came under examination。 I do not thus
speak of myself out of any weakness； for pocket…handkerchiefs are
wholly without vanity； but simply because I am impelled to utter nothing
but truth。 Julia had too much consideration to let her young sisters into
the secret of my pricefor this would have been teaching a premature
lesson in extravagance； but； having permitted them to gratify their
curiosity； she exacted of them both promises not to speak of me to their
governess。
〃But why not； Julia？〃 asked the inquisitive little Jane； 〃Mademoiselle
Hennequin is SO good and SO kind； that she would be glad to hear of
your good fortune。〃
Julia had an indistinct view of her own motive； but she could not avow it
to any one； not even to herself。 Jealousy would be too strong； perhaps
too indelicate a word； but she alone had detected Betts Shoreham's
admiration of the governess； and it was painful to her to permit one who
stood in this relation to her own weakness in favor of the young man； to
be a witness of an act of extravagance to which she had only half
consented in committing it； and of which she already more than half
repented。 From the first； therefore； she determined that Mademoiselle
Hennequin should never see me。
CHAPTER XIV。
And now comes an exhibition of my mesmeritic powers； always
〃handkerchiefly speaking；〃 that may surprise those who have not
attended to the modern science of invisible fluids。 It is by this means；
however； that I am enabled to perceive a great deal of that which
passes under the roof where I may happen to be； without absolutely
seeing it。 Much escapes me； of coursefor even a pocket…handkerchief
cannot hear or see every thing； but enough is learned to enable me to
furnish a very clear outline of that which occurs near me； more
especially if it happen to be within walls of brick。 In wooden edifices I
find my powers much diminishedthe fluids； doubtless； escaping
through the pores of the material。
That evening； then； at the usual hour； and while I lay snugly ensconced
in a most fragrant and convenient drawer； among various other beings
of my species； though not of my family； alas！ the inmates of the house
assembled in the front drawing…room to take a few cups of tea。 Mr。 and
Mrs。 Monson； with their only son； John Monson； their three daughters；
the governess； and Betts Shoreham； were all prese