‘Probably not,’ said Juliana; ‘for of course you will see nobody but a set of old maids and clergymen and their wives.’
‘She need not go far for old maids,’ whispered Bertha to Maria.
‘Pray, in which class do you reckon the Sandbrooks?’ said Phœbe, smiling; ‘for she chiefly goes to meet them.’
‘She may go!’ said Juliana, scornfully; ‘but Lucilla Sandbrook is far past attending to her!’
‘I wonder whether the Charterises will take any notice of Phœbe?’ exclaimed Augusta.
‘My dear,’ said Mrs. Fulmort, waking slowly to another idea, ‘I will tell Boodle to talk to—what’s your maid’s name?—about your dresses.’
‘Oh, mamma,’ interposed Juliana, ‘it will be only poking about the exhibitions with Miss Charlecote. You may have that plaid silk of mine that I was going to have worn out abroad, half-price for her.’
Bertha fairly made a little stamp at Juliana, and clenched her fist.
If Phœbe dreaded anything in the way of dress, it was Juliana’s half-price.
‘My dear, your papa would not like her not to be well fitted out,’ said her mother; ‘and Honora Charlecote always has such handsome things. I wish Boodle could put mine on like hers.’