The young woman made a little gesture of despair à la Française. “Of course, colors can’t help going together when they’re put together,” she said. “The question is whether they are in good taste. And cannot you see, mamma, that what is very fine for a banner isn’t proper for a lady’s dress? But no matter, since it cannot be helped. And now, I have something to tell you. I read in a book this morning that fleshy people could make themselves thinner by giving up vegetables and sweets, and living on rare beef and fruits, and using all the vinegar they could on things. That’s worth your trying.”
“But I don’t like raw beef and vinegar,” cried the mother in dismay.
“It is not a question of liking,” replied the young woman loftily. “It is a question of health, and comfort, and good looks. It certainly cannot be to you a matter of indifference that the whole neighborhood laugh behind their blinds to see you back down out of the carriage.”
“Let ‘em laugh,” said the mother sulkily. “They’d be willing to back out of carriages all their lives if they could have such as mine.”
Annette drew herself up with great dignity: “Mamma, I do not consider anything trivial when it concerns the credit of the family. To keep that up, I would starve, I would work, I would perform any hardship.”
To do the girl justice, she spoke but the truth.
“You might take claret with lemon in it, instead of vinegar,” she added after a moment. “And, by the way, I have ordered dinner at half-past four, so as to be through in time for an early rehearsal. Mr. Schöninger is engaged for the evening, and they are all to be here by half-past five. Do be careful, ma. Mrs. Gerald is coming up.”
“I don’t care for ‘em!” Mrs. Ferrier burst forth. “I’m tired of having to mince and pucker for the sake of those Geralds. What are they to me? All they want of us is our money.”
Annette hushed her mother, and tried to soothe her, leading the way into a side room; but, having begun, the honest creature must free her mind. “You’ve had your say, and now I want to have mine,” she persisted, but consented to lower her voice to a more confidential pitch. “I’m going to have a talk with Lawrence to-day when dinner is over. I sha’n’t put it off. If company comes before I get through, you must entertain them. My mind is made up.”