'Duchess,' said Rollo the next morning at breakfast, 'which cabinet maker is to have the honour of your patronage?'
'I suppose it is not fair to do people good against their will,' said Hazel. 'If Prim would like the common oneand the money best, she must have that. But I shall let her know she chose it.'
'You would not like to be suspected of having practised economy?'
'Not unjustly.'
'How is that an unjust suspicion, which is founded on fact?'
'I am not practising economy a bit. Prim wants a secretaryand you say she would like that best.'
'Excuse me! I said she would like that and the hundred and fifty dollars best; and you will practise economy to give them to her. Nicht?'
'Not at all. Only self-denial. I never did buy ugly things, and I don't like it.'
'Self-denial is almost as good as economy, and one step towards it. But I would remark, that economy and ugly things have no necessary connection.'
'No,' said Hazel'my alternative would be destitution.'