Miss Bassett was sitting at the other end of the room, and, fortunately, was engaged in conversation with Mrs. Hayden, so that she did not hear this last remark.
“Thank you,” said Mabel demurely. “You quite encourage me.”
“I was twenty five myself before I was married,” continued Mrs. Pulsifer. “Not but what I had offers before. Maybe you’ve had a chance?” and the old lady scrutinized Mabel’s countenance.
“Maybe I have,” she answered, wanting to laugh.
“That’s a pooty gown you have on,” said Mrs. Pulsifer, her attention diverted by Mabel’s dress. “Was it made in the city?”
“Yes.”
“Looks like nice cloth,” continued Mrs. Pulsifer, taking a fold between her thumb and finger.
“I think it is,” answered Mabel. “How much was it a yard?”
“I’m afraid I don’t remember,” Mabel replied.
The fact is, she had intrusted the purchase of her summer dresses to her dressmaker, who rendered her the bill in a lump. If there were any details she did not remember them.
“That’s strange,” said the old lady, staring. “I know the price of all the clothes I ever bought.”
“You probably have a better memory than I,” said Mabel, hoping by this compliment to turn the attack, but in vain.
“Haven’t you any idee of the price?” asked the old lady.
“It may have been a dollar a yard.”
“How many yards did you get?”
“I — am not sure.”
“How much did you pay for that collar?”
“I am really sorry I can’t tell you,” said Mabel, who felt somewhat embarrassed.
“Perhaps you don’t like to tell.”
“I would tell you with pleasure, if I knew.”
“‘Pears to me you must be a poor manager not to keep more account of your expenses,” said Mrs. Pulsifer.
“I am afraid I am,” said Mabel.
“How many dresses did you bring with you, Miss Frost?”
The old lady’s catechizing was getting annoying, but Mabel understood that she meant no offense and answered patiently, “Six.”
“Did they all cost as much as this?”
“I should think so.”
“I don’t see how you can afford to spend so much on dress,” said Mrs. Pulsifer, “considering you have only seven dollars a week salary.”
“I shall try to be more prudent hereafter, Mrs. Pulsifer.”
“You’d better. The men will be afraid to marry you if they think you’re extravagant. I told my son Jotham, `Jotham,’ says I, `don’t you marry a woman that wants to put all her money on her back.’ Says I, `An extravagant wife is a curse to a man that wants to be forehanded.'”
“Did your son follow your advice?”
“Yes; he married a likely girl that makes all her own dresses. Jotham told me only last week that he didn’t buy her but one dress all last year.”
“You must be pleased with your daughter-in-law, Mrs. Pulsifer.”
“Yes; she’s pretty good as wives go nowadays, but I don’t think she’s a good cook.”
“That is a pity.”
“Can you cook, Miss Frost?
“I don’t know much about cooking.”
Sho! You’ll want to know how when you’re married.”
“When I see any chance of marrying I mean to take lessons,” said Mabel.
Just then, to Mabel’s relief, supper was reported to be ready, and the members of the sewing society filed out with alacrity to the sitting room, where a long table was bountifully spread with hot biscuit, preserves, and several kinds of cake and pies. The mistress of the household, rather flushed by the heat of the kitchen, welcomed her guests, and requested them to take seats. Mabel took care not to sit in the neighborhood of Mrs. Pulsifer. The old lady’s curiosity had come to be annoying, yet could not well be resented.
She congratulated herself on finding her next neighbor to be Mrs. Wilson, the minister’s wife, a small woman, in a well worn silk, ten years old, which had been her only “company dress” during that entire period. There was a look of patient anxiety on the good woman’s face which had become habitual. She was sorely perplexed at all times to make both ends meet. Even now she was uncomfortable in mind from this very cause. During the morning Mr. Bennett, the butcher, had called at the parsonage, and urgently requested payment for his “little bill.” It amounted to only twenty five dollars, but the minister’s stock of ready money was reduced to five dollars, and to pay this on account would have left him penniless. His candid statement of his pecuniary condition was not well received.