"You don't see anything, Sarah. You don't see the nose on your face, though I see 'tis a very big one. I will make it evident to you. He will be poor, Blanche is rich: if she gives him her money, he will spend it. Never having had any of his own, he won't know how to take care of it. If, on the other hand, she don't give it to him, he will think she does not care for him—will get jealous, likely take to drink: your clever man always does. They will quarrel; then her clever husband will use his clever tongue to tease her, and his clever brain to thwart and provoke her—which a stupid man would never think of doing—and, worse than all, she will never get the least chance to have her own way in anything."
"Poor Blanche! I pity her," sighed Mrs. Fluffy.
"I don't, in the least," snapped the other. "Such an example will serve to make other girls more sensible. Only you take it as a warning to your own Eva."
After quite a long silence, in which I suppose Mrs. Fluffy was considering, she said pathetically, "I wish you would tell me what to do with Eva."
"Marry her as soon as possible," was the prompt and decided reply. "It is her second summer 'out,' and she should at least be engaged."
"I can do nothing. What do you advise, Jane?"
"In the first place, stop her being with such gentlemen as Mr. Hardcash."
"Eva is so high-spirited," groaned Mrs. Fluffy, "I fear she would not listen to me."
"You mean obstinate, Sarah. Tell her seriously that she has had two very gay seasons—that you can't afford another—that she must make up her mind now. Then think over all the most eligible gentlemen you know, and cultivate their acquaintance."
"Couldn't you help me, Jane?" asked the other timidly. "I shall not know what to do."