“I will tell you how I spent it,” I said; and then I described to her all about the ribbons and the chiffons and the gloves and the stockings and the handkerchiefs.
“The stockings were needful,” she said, “and so were the gloves and handkerchiefs. So much ribbon was scarcely essential, but it can be passed over. The hat you bought was vulgar, so I trust you will not wear it again.”
“What?” I said. “That lovely green hat with the bird-of-Paradise in it?”
“It is very unsuitable to a girl of your age.”
“I got it in one of the smartest shops in Regent Street.”
“Anything that is unsuitable is vulgar, Dumps. I hope you will soon understand that for yourself.”
“Oh, I have a great deal to learn,” I said, with sudden humility.
“You have, my dear; and when you take that fact really to heart you will begin to learn in grave reality, and you will be all that your father and I long to make you.”
“But I’m not the least like father; he could never appreciate me, for I am so different from him. If, for instance, I were like Augusta—”
“I wonder, Dumps, if it would greatly distress you if Augusta also went to the French school?”