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It was the first time of seeing her in the white muslin； and broad
chip hatwhich all the younger saleswomen of the bazaar had agreed
to wear。 It was a most becoming dress； and she did； indeed； look
strikingly elegant and well dressed。 It occurred to Ethel； for the
first time； that Flora was decidedly the reigning beauty of the
bazaarno one but Meta Rivers could be compared to her； and that
little lady was on so small a scale of perfect finish； that she
seemed fit to act the fairy； where Flora was the enchanted princess。
Flora greeted her sisters eagerly； while Meta introduced her brother…
…a great contrast to herself； though not without a certain
comeliness； tall and large； with ruddy complexion； deep lustreless
black eyes； and a heavy straight bush of black moustache； veiling
rather thick lips。 Blanche reiterated inquiries for her watch…guard。
〃I don't know；〃said Flora。 〃Somewhere among the rest。〃
Blanche was in despair。
〃You may look for it；〃 said Flora； who； however hurried； never failed
in kindness； 〃if you will touch nothing。〃
So Blanche ran from place to place in restless dismay； that caused
Mr。 George Rivers to ask what was the matter。
〃The guards！ the guards！〃 cried Blanche； whereupon he fell into a fit
of laughter； which disconcerted her； because she could not understand
him； and made Ethel take an aversion to him on the spot。
However； he was very good…natured； he took Blanche's reluctant hand；
and conducted her all along the stall； even proceeding to lift her up
where she could not command a view of the whole； thus exciting her
extreme indignation。 She shook herself out when he set her down；
surveyed her crumpled muslin； and believed he took her for a little
girl！ She ought to have been flattered when the quest was
successful； and he insisted on knowing which was the guard； and
declared that he should buy it。 She begged him to do no such thing；
and he desired to know whyinsisting that he would give five
shillingsfifteentwenty…five for that one！ till she did not know
whether he was in earnest； and she doing an injury to the bazaar。
Meantime； the hour had struck； and Flora had placed Mrs。 Hoxton in a
sheltered spot； where she could take as much or as little trouble as
she pleased。 Lady Leonora and Miss Langdale came from the house；
and； with the two ladies'…maids in the background； took up their
station with Miss Rivers。 Miss Cleveland called her party to order；
and sounds of carriages were heard approaching。
Mary and Blanche disbursed the first money spent in the 〃fancy fair；〃
Mary； on a blotting…book for Harry； to be placed among the presents；
to which she added on every birthday； while Blanche bought a sixpenny
gift for every one； with more attention to the quantity than the
quality。 Then came a revival of her anxieties for the guards； and
while Mary was simply desirous of the fun of being a shopwoman； and
was made happy by Meta Rivers asking her help； Blanche was in
despair； till she had sidled up to their neighbourhood； and her
piteous looks had caused good…natured Mrs。 Hoxton to invite her to
assist； when she placed herself close to the precious object。
A great fluttering of heart went to that manoeuvre； but still
felicity could not be complete。 That great troublesome Mr。 George
Rivers had actually threatened to buy nothing but that one watch…
chain； and Blanche's eye followed him everywhere with fear； lest he
should come that way。 And there were many other gentlemenwhat
could they want but watch…guards； and of themwhatsave this
paragon？
Poor Blanche； what did she not undergo whenever any one cast his eye
over her range of goods？ and this was not seldom； for there was an
attraction in the pretty little eager girl； glowing and smiling。 One
old gentleman actually stopped； handled the guards themselves； and
asked their price。
〃Eighteen…pence；〃 said Blanche； colouring and faltering； as she held
up one in preference。
〃Eh！ is not this the best？〃 said he； to the lady on his arm。
〃Oh！ please； take that instead？〃 exclaimed Blanche； in extremity。
〃And why？〃 asked the gentleman； amused。
〃I made this；〃 she answered。
〃Is that the reason I must not have it？〃
〃No； don't tease her；〃 the lady said kindly； and the other was
taken。
〃I wonder for what it is reserved！〃 the lady could not help saying；
as she walked away。
〃Let us watch her for a minute or two。 What an embellishment
children are！ Ha！ don't you seethe little maid is fluttering and
reddeningnow！ How pretty she looks！ Ah！ I see！ here's the
favoured！ Don't you see that fine bronzed ladEtonone can see at
a glance！ It is a little drama。 They are pretending to be
strangers。 He is turning over the goods with an air； she trying to
look equally careless； but what a pretty carnation it is！ Ha！ ha！ he
has come to ithe has it！ Now the acting is over； and they are
having their laugh out！ How joyously！ What next！ Oh！ she begs off
from keeping shopshe darts out to him； goes off in his handI
declare that is the prettiest sight in the whole fair！ I wonder who
the little demoiselle can be？〃
The great event of the day was over now with Blanche； and she greatly
enjoyed wandering about with Hector and Tom。 There was a post…office
at Miss Cleveland's stall； where； on paying sixpence； a letter could
be obtained to the address of the inquirer。 Blanche had been very
anxious to try； but Flora had pronounced it nonsense； however； Hector
declared that Flora was not his master； tapped at the sliding panel；
and charmed Blanche by what she thought a most witty parody of his
name as Achilles Lionsrock； Esquire。 When the answer came from
within； 〃Ship letter； sir； double postage；〃 they thought it almost
uncanny； and Hector's shilling was requited by something so like a
real ship letter； that they had some idea that the real post had
somehow transported itself thither。 The interior was decidedly
oracular； consisting of this one line； 〃I counsel you to persevere in
your laudable undertaking。〃
Hector said he wished he had any laudable undertaking； and Blanche
tried to persuade Tom to try his fortune； but he pronounced that he
did not care to hear Harvey Anderson's trashhe knew his writing；
though disguised； and had detected his shining boots below the
counter。 There Mr。 George Rivers came up； and began to tease Blanche
about the guards； asking her to take his fifteen shillingsor five…
and…twenty； and who had got that one； which alone he wanted； till the
poor child； after standing perplexed for some moments； looked up with
spirit； and said； 〃You have no business to ask；〃 and； running away；
took refuge in the back of Mrs。 Hoxton's marquee； where she found
Ethel packing up for Miss Hoxton's purchasers； and confiding to her
that Mr。 George Rivers was a horrid man； she ventured no more from
her protection。 She did； indeed； emerge； when told that papa was
coming with Aubrey and Daisy and Miss Bracy； and she had the pleasure
of selling to them some of her wares。 Dr。 May bargaining with her to
her infinite satisfaction； and little Gertrude's blue eyes opened to
their full width； not understanding what could have befallen her
s