“‘I could listen all day to it, ma, for I knew it was true. I never saw you look so lovely, the new bishop has improved your appearance amazingly.’
“‘Who?’ said the mother, with an hysterical scream; ‘what do you mean?’
“‘The new bustler, ma.’
“‘Oh,’ said she, quite relieved, ‘oh, do you think so?’
“‘But what did you want of me, ma?’
“‘To fasten my gown, dear, there is a hook come undone.’
“‘Coming,’ she said, in a loud voice.
“There was nobody calling, but somebody ought to have called; so she fastens the hook, and flies back as fast as she came.
“Sarah Matilda, you were not born yesterday; first you put your mother on the defensive, and then you stroked her down with the grain, and made her feel good all over, while you escaped from a scolding you know you deserved. A jealous mother makes an artful daughter. But, Sarah Matilda, one word in your ear. Art ain’t cleverness, and cunning ain’t understanding. Semblance only answers once; the second time the door ain’t opened to it.
“Henrietta is all adrift, too; she is an old maid, and Di nicknamed her ‘the old hen.’ She has been shamefully neglected today. The young men have been flirting about with those forward young girls—children—mere children, and have not had the civility to exchange a word with her. The old ladies have been whispering gossip all day, and the old gentlemen busy talking about freights, the Fall-catch of mackarel, and ship-building. Nor could their talk have been solely confined to these subjects, for once when she approached them, she heard the head of the firm say: