"There you are mistaken, aunt. Most fashionable dress-makers aim at producing garments comfortable to the wearers; and those fashions which are most comfortable, are most readily adopted by the largest numbers."
"You certainly do not pretend to say, Mary," Henry interposed, "that all changes in fashions are improvements in comfort?"
"O no, certainly not. Many, nay, most of the changes are unimportant in that respect."
"And are the inventions and whims of fashion makers," added aunt Abigail with warmth.
"No doubt of it," Mary readily admitted.
"And you are such a weak, foolish girl, as to adopt, eagerly, every trifling variation in fashion?" continued aunt Abigail.
"No, not eagerly, aunt."
"But at all?"
"I adopt a great many, certainly, for no other reason than because they are fashionable."
"For shame, Mary, to make such an admission! I really thought better of you."