As neither Isabel nor Christina made any protest, she added: "You may go at once and buy yourselves a couple of suits, one for church, and a white one that will be easily laundered. I suppose hats, gloves, shoes, and some other things will be necessary. You can each of you spend forty pounds. This is a gift, I shall not take it from your allowance."
"I cannot see through mother," observed Christina as they were on their shopping expedition.
"Can you see through anything, Christina? I cannot."
"She had a great fit of the liberalities this morning. What for?"
"She was buying us. One way or another, she has us all under her feet."
"Poor Theodora!"
"Keep your pity for poor Christina. If Theodora has been a schoolmistress she knows fine how to hold her own."
"With schoolgirls—perhaps. Mother is different."
"The difference is not worth counting. Women, old and young, are very much alike."
"Do you believe the paperers and painters begin work to-morrow?"