“Perhaps you’ll have the kindness to measure what you take off yourself, madam,” replied my mother, “and then you need not wait.”
“You put confidence in me, I observe, Mrs Keene,” replied Mrs Handbell; “well, I will do you justice.”
My mother smiled most graciously, put the piece of ribbon in paper, and handed it to Mrs Handbell, who, bowing to Captain Bridgeman, quitted the shop.
“I wonder whether you would trust me in that way?” said Captain Bridgeman to my mother.
“I don’t think I should; Amelia says you will help yourself to cigars and that she is sure you cheat when you count them.”
“Does she really say that? Well, I did think that if there was any one who would have upheld my character, it would have been Miss Amelia.”
“Perhaps, Captain Bridgeman, she is getting tired of so doing.”
“Or tired of me, Mrs Keene, which would be worse still. Here comes a fair young lady—Miss Evans, if I mistake not; I believe she is a good customer to your library?”
“She reads a great deal, and is therefore only a customer to the library.”
“Ladies who are fond of reading are seldom fond of working.”