I had not done laughing at this graphic description when Belinda Ann, who had been keeping a sharp look-out all this time, gave us the signal to dismount, which we did in a breathless scramble owing to the tram starting on again before we were well off the step.
I found there was still some little distance to walk before we arrived at the house, but everything was so new to me that I did not mind.
Thus, passing a second-hand clothier’s window, my eye was at once caught by a white dress in the window labelled, “A boon to young ladies about to marry! Let out by the day!”
It was made of some soft silky material in the prevailing fashion and thoughtfully cut large enough to accommodate any figure, as of course any superfluity could be pinned over should the hirer happen to be of a sylph-like form!
“I s’pose I shall come ter that if any chap ever says ‘Chairs’ ter me!” remarked Belinda Ann, with a last glance at it as we tore ourselves away.
“Says what?” I inquired, not very elegantly, I fear.
“Chairs!” she replied shortly, for she took the surprise in my voice to imply a doubt of her ever wanting a wedding-dress.
“What in all the world has that to do with it?” I asked, after a moment’s puzzled silence.
She surveyed me for a second with a sort of pitying scorn for my ignorance, and then proceeded to enlighten me.
“Why, yer see, yer may walk out with a feller fer months an’ never get no forrader, so ter speak, or yer may chynge about with another feller an’ no one think any harm of it; but if any on ’em mentions ‘furniture’ to yer, it’s a sign that he means bizness, an’ yer can begin ter think about yer trossax.”