“Upon my word, young woman!” spluttered Lady Amelia.
“Yes, you may toss your old head, and sniff and snort, my Lady Amelia,” thought the shopwoman, remaining herself quite imperturbable, save for that deepening colour, “but you’ll not come it over me with your high nose and your country taste, and you needn’t think it.”
They gazed upon each other steadily for nearly a minute, then the dowager’s glare wavered.
“It’s an original effect of colour, I’ll say that,” she said weakly, “and—does that parasol go with it?”
Miss Pounce took up the minute article in question, shook out the fringe, opened it, and held it gracefully at divers angles.
“An ivory handle, your Ladyship perceives, cream poult de soie of the first quality, the sarcenet lining beautifully gathered, isn’t it, Miss? a deeper shade of primrose, so becoming to the complexion, and such a background for the powder—really as never was.”
“An ivory handle,” said Lady Amelia, pulling a long upper lip, “and fringe and what not! Absurd extravagance for a girl.”
“It goes with the whole inspiration, my Lady. A cheap parasol or a wrong colour would—Foh! would destroy it all.”
After which Lady Amelia fell to haggling. She demanded a personal interview with Madame Mirabel. She declared that the advantage to the firm of clothing the beautiful Miss Jane Vibart, if not sufficient compensation in itself, ought to make a considerable difference in the charges made.
Miss Pounce regretted that Madame Mirabel was not visible. Madame Mirabel could not be troubled on these matters. She who spoke was solely responsible for the department. She regretted that she could not regard the favour of clothing Miss Jane Vibart otherwise than as a business transaction. What was the price? Nothing! Twenty-five guineas—given away! Oh, no, my Lady, she did not think she could use up a square of her ladyship’s old Honiton instead of the blonde. No, nor make it twenty guineas and throw in the parasol. It was a tremendous contest. Lady Amelia haggled with a zest and energy that spoke of long practice and an actual enjoyment of the process. Miss Pounce’s cheeks were flaming when the transaction was at last concluded, and she had after all gracefully conceded a reduction of five pounds.