“I fear you would not have recognized any want, my dear; and I fear it is true that some men are so thoughtless that they act as if women’s clothes grew on them like the petals of a flower, and cost neither money nor effort to renew. But I see now. Yes, dear rose of my life, I see your petals are fading.”
No more was said until after luncheon, when Cleve put a fifty-dollar note in Palma’s hand and said:
“Go out and get what is necessary for your comfort, my dear; and take some lady friend with you, for I fear you have very little experience in shopping.”
“Thank you, Cleve,” replied Palma, laughing; “but I shall take Poley. She will be a better judge of what I need than any of our fine lady friends.”
“Well, perhaps you are right,” admitted Stuart, and the discussion ended.
When Mrs. Pole had cleared away the table and taken her own luncheon Palma invited her to go on a shopping expedition; and they put on their bonnets and outer garments and started. Palma’s was only the plush jacket that belonged to her cashmere suit, and she shivered so much as she walked that Mrs. Pole said:
“The very first thing that you must buy must be a heavy cloth coat. You can get one for twenty dollars. I should prefer a Scotch plaid shawl, but young people don’t wear such things now, only neat-fitting coats, or sacques, or dolmans.”
They went down on Broadway and into store after store, trying where they could find at once the cheapest and the best.
At length Palma was suited with a close-fitting heavy cloth coat that not only satisfied herself but also Mrs. Pole.
“Now, then, as you like it so well, keep it on, child, and have your plush jacket done up in a parcel and I will take it home,” said the good woman.