"Ma, why should you mention it?"
"I wish to enlighten Mr. Asten. Six pairs of shoes!—of course all of the same pattern; and the fashion may change in another year!"
"In the country we have no fashions in shoes," Joseph suggested.
"Certainly!" said Julia. "I find Uncle Woollish's present very practical indeed."
Mrs. Blessing looked at her daughter, and said nothing.
Mr. Blessing, very red in the face, but with triumphant cambric about his throat, entered the room, endeavoring to get his fat hands into a pair of No. 9 gloves. A strong smell of turpentine or benzine entered with him.
"Eliza," said he, "you must find me some eau de cologne. The odor left from my—my rheumatic remedy is still perceptible. Indeed, patchouly would be better, if it were not the scent peculiar to parvenus."
Clementina came to say that the clergyman's carriage had just reached the door, and Mr. Blessing was hurried down stairs, mopping his gloves and the collar of his coat with liquid fragrance by the way. Mrs. Blessing and Clementina presently followed.
"Julia," said Joseph when they were quite alone, "have you thought that this is for life?"
She looked up with a tender smile, but something in his face arrested it on her lips.