“Oh—!” said Mrs. Gardiner. The manner was as if ‘that may be.’ “I did not look in the cases,” she added. “And what did Dudevant ask you for that hat, Emma?”
“That’s between me and my conscience,” replied Emma, laughing. “I never tell Dudevant’s prices.”
“She is an extortionate creature,” said Mrs. Gardiner; and there the subject dropped.
“Well, Emma,” said she, after some time, “if you think your mother will not be at home to dinner, there’s no use in my waiting for her, I suppose.”
“I do not think there is any chance of your seeing mamma this morning, Mrs. Gardiner, for I’ve no doubt she’ll stay and dine at Mrs. Haight’s. But won’t you stay with Alice and myself?”
“Thank you, my dear,” replied the lady. “I wanted to see your mother, but since she is out, I believe I must be going. Good morning.”
“Good morning;” and the door had hardly closed upon her, ere Emma exclaimed,—
“She’s gone at last, thank heaven! She came to spend the day, I expect. I was so afraid that mother might come in. I thought I actually heard her at one time on the stairs.”
“Why, is not your mother out?” inquired Alice, opening her eyes very wide.
“Lord, no, my dear,” said Emma, laughing. “Did you think she was?”