She chose a mass of white roses, "dreaming in velvet."
Adelaide Maud rose, gave directions about sending, and prepared to leave.
"Don't you want to know the price?" asked Mabel in great amazement.
"Oh, of course."
Adelaide Maud asked the price.
The total took Mabel's breath away.
"You must never marry a poor man," said she as they passed out. Adelaide Maud stopped humbly in a passage of grey velvet and silver gilt.
"Well, I never," she said. Then walking on, she asked in a very humble, mocking tone, "Will you teach me, Mabs, how to shop so that I may marry a poor man."
Mabel laughed gaily.
"Thank you," said she. "That sounds as though you think that I ought to know. Am I to marry a poor man?"