Harriett Phillips Does A Little Bit Of Shopping, Which Is Somewhat
Fatal To Her Projects
Among other purchases which Elsie had made on the day of Francis'
arrival, were the materials for a bonnet for Mrs. Phillips, which she
had chosen, and which, as she was busily engaged in making up, so much
excited Harriett's admiration, that she was seized with a desire to
have one like it immediately, only that hers must be of a different
colour, and a little modified in shape, to suit her different
complexion and contour of face. On the following morning, as she was
going out shopping herself, she asked Elsie to accompany her, to give
her the benefit of her taste on this as well as some other purchases.
Mr. Brandon was asked if he was not going down Regent Street? He said
he was, and he would be very happy to go with Miss Phillips--as he had
nothing particular to do, and Phillips was out, and Jane had the
children at their lessons, and he did not find it amusing to be left
TETE-A-TETE with Mrs. Phillips.
Miss Harriett was quite unaware of her own weakness, or she never would
have asked a lover to go with her in a draper's shop. Elsie had seen
something of Mrs. Phillips's unreasonableness and unscrupulousness, but
this was the first time she had been with her sister-in-law, and she
did not expect from a young lady of such professed good principles, and
good-nature, such an utter abnegation of these excellent qualities in
dealing with tradespeople. She blushed for her companion, who did not
blush for herself. She herself chose quickly, with the certain judgment
of a fine taste and a practised eye; but what she fixed on as most
suitable for Miss Phillips's complexion and style, was not always of a
suitable price. When driven from the expensive to something cheaper,
then it was shabby and not fit to wear. Miss Phillips had come out
determined to get as good things as possible, and to pay as small a
price as possible for them; she would not be put off with an inferior
article, and yet she was not willing to give the value of a superior.
Elsie, who had herself waited on ladies of this character, and felt her
body ache all over from the fatigue of being civil to them, was sorry
for the shopmen, who fetched out box after box, and displayed article
after article, without anything being exactly the thing which their
customer wanted; while Walter Brandon stood beside the two ladies,
finding it harder than ever to feel sentimental about Harriett Phillips.
Leigh Hunt recommends men to choose their wives in drapers' shops; for
if a woman is conscientious, reasonable, and expeditious there, he
thinks a man may be sure she will be fit for all the duties of life.
But perhaps his test is too severe for general use, for many of the
best of wives and mothers, the kindest of friends, and the most pious
of Christians, are very far from appearing amiable under circumstances
of such great temptation. The obsequious manners of British shopmen,
who never show any spirit or any resentment, tend to lull conscience,
while the strife between the desire for display and style, and the love
of money, makes many women at once fastidious and unscrupulous. To
Brandon, Harriett Phillips's conduct appeared ill-bred and mean; he
could not help contrasting her with Elsie Melvlle, and acknowledging
that the latter was the real gentlewoman. He began also to observe a
certain imperiousness in Harriett's manner to Elsie herself, which
struck him as being particularly ungraceful, and the old pity began to
reawake the old love. He had sometimes wished to speak to Alice just a
few words to show that he had not been offended or piqued at her
refusal, but never had had any opportunity, and on this occasion Miss
Harriett did not seem disposed to give him any.
At last, after being in several shops, and turning over innumerable
boxes of ribbons, laces, blondes, flowers, &c., all was purchased that
was required, and even Miss Phillips was perfectly satisfied with the
selection she had made.
"Oh, dear!" said she, looking at her watch, "how late it is! I quite
intended to be in time for luncheon, for we started so early. Morning
is always the best time for shopping--at least, I find I am better
attended to then. But we are too late, and Mrs. Phillips will not wait
for us. We had better have something to eat here, for I am very
hungry--so, Mr. Brandon, I trust you to find some place where we can
make a comfortable luncheon; I have no doubt you know the best
restaurateur, and afterwards you will get us a cab to go home in. I
like to make gentlemen useful when I take them shopping with me."
"I am quite at your service," said Brandon, "for, as I said before, I
have nothing particular to do."
"That is taking all the grace out of your gallantry," said Miss
Phillips, "but if you acquit yourself well, I will forgive you that
impolite speech."
Brandon did as he was desired--took the ladies to a fashionable
restaurateur's, asked them what they would like, and ordered and paid
for a very good and very expensive luncheon. Then he brought a cab, and
accompanied them home.
"I really wish my brother could keep a carriage of his own," said Miss
Phillips. "That is one of the few extravagances I quite sympathize with
Mrs. Phillips in her desire for. It is so disagreeable to have to trust
to these hired conveyances. One does not know who may have been in them
before, and might catch fever or something of that kind."
"Perhaps one might," said Brandon, "though it never entered my head to
think of such disagreeable things. But then I have never been
accustomed to ride in a carriage of my own. Riding on horseback was my
only means of locomotion at Barragong; and Melbourne, up to this time,
has no such luxury for ordinary people as a hackney-coach stand, so
that I cannot help being surprised at the cheapness and convenience of
cabbing it in London. Whereas both of you ladies have been accustomed
to private carriages, and must feel this very inferior."
"Oh, Alice! by the by, so you were, I suppose," said Miss Phillips.
"I preferred riding on horseback in those days," said Elsie; "but I
think the drives with Dr. Phillips, lately, were the most delightful
things I ever had in my life. After being quite debarred from anything
but walking so long, I feel this hackney-coach really luxurious, I
assure you."
"The drives in Derbyshire did you good, Miss Alice; you are looking
better than when you came down," said Mr. Brandon.
"Oh! much better," said Miss Phillips. "Papa said it was all nonsense
her being so alarmed about her health; but, both she and Miss Melville
were a little frightened--London suits her better than Edinburgh. I
have not heard you cough, Alice, for a week or more."
"Yes, my cough is quite gone," said Elsie; "and I have much better
spirits."
"But, by the by," said Miss Phillips, "I really want my bonnet to go
out with tomorrow. Your London smoke is dreadfully destructive. I had
no idea that mine was so bad till I put it on this bright day, and
really it looks too shabby to wear, though I had intended to make it
last another month. At home it would have looked better after three
months' wear than it does after three weeks here. You know, Mrs.
Phillips promised you should have it ready for me to go to the
exhibition of pictures tomorrow, by middle day," continued she.
"I fear," said Alice, "that I cannot get it done in time, for we have
been so much longer in Regent Street than I expected, and it will be
nearly dinnertime before we get home; and Mr. Phillips insists, that as
my cousin Francis is to dine with you today, I should be of the party."
"Indeed!" said Harriett, "and so you cannot finish my bonnet in
time--it is a great disappointment to me."
"Mr. Phillips would not allow me to refuse, I know; and Jane, too, is
anxious for me to have a talk with Francis."
"And you would like it yourself, too?" said Mr. Brandon.
"Yes, very much indeed," said Elsie, honestly.
"I will be glad to have the chance of seeing you. By the by, Phillips
forgot to ask me; but I will forgive him, and invite myself."
"Oh! you need not stand on ceremony," said Harriett; "you are in the
habit of coming in and going out of the house like one of ourselves;
but really, Alice, are you sure you could not do my bonnet for me?
There is so little work on the bonnets now-a-days, and you might have
it done by two o'clock. Is not that the hour you appointed, Mr.
Brandon?"
"Yes; or say half-past," said Brandon.
"Well, by half-past two. I am sure you have made bonnets in a greater
hurry at your Edinburgh house of business often enough. I have seen how
very quick you are. I quite wondered at the rapidity with which you got
on with Mrs. Phillips's."
"But that is not finished," said Elsie, "and I promised it for the same
hour to go to the Exhibition. I am very sorry, indeed, Miss Phillips;
but, unless you can induce Mr. Phillips to excuse my appearance at
dinner, I cannot possibly do it for you."
"Oh! very well," said Harriett, coldly; "I have a bonnet to wear,
though it really is rather shabby; and Mrs. Phillips takes such pains
to have everything fresh and fashionable, that I am sadly thrown into
the shade. What a sum of money she contrives to spend every year on
herself! but my brother is so exceedingly easy and indulgent, he denies
her nothing. Don't you think her dreadfully extravagant, Mr. Brandon? I
should be ashamed to spend money as thoughtlessly as she does. She does
not care what she pays for a thing if it takes her fancy. Now, my
bonnet will not cost two-thirds of what hers has done, and it will look
quite as pretty, will it not, Alice?"
"A little different in style, but quite as well," said Elsie.
"You see, Mr. Brandon, that if I have seemed to take a great deal of
trouble over my purchases, it has been for some purpose. One cannot
economize without some thought being bestowed upon such things as
these."
Mr. Brandon could not but assent, but the act of politeness COSt him an
effort.
"Then you come to dine with us today, to meet this Mr. Hogarth? Do you
know, I have a great curiosity to see him. His father and papa being
such old friends, long ago, gives me quite an interest in him; and the
extraordinary story of his succession to his Scotch property is so
romantic. What is he like--is he presentable?"
"He was quite the rage in Edinburgh when I was there, about the new
year--a reading man, and a man of considerable taste--just your sort,
in fact. He is a great friend of Miss Melville's, though I fancy, Miss
Alice, that you do not care so much for him."
"I like him very much indeed, though I was longer in doing him justice
than Jane was. The circumstances of our first introduction were very
painful," said Elsie.
"If he is a friend of your sister's, that is quite enough for me," said
Harriett. "I do not think I ever met with any one so congenial to my
tastes as Miss Melville is. Ladies are so superficial nowadays; their
education is all for show, and nothing solid or thorough in it. My dear
father was so careful to give us a thoroughly good education. It is
very seldom that we meet with any one so well grounded as Miss Melville
is. It is a good thing for my nieces that Stanley met with her. Your
uncle MUST have meant that you should teach, Alice."
"Did Dr. Phillips mean that you should teach?" said Brandon, bluntly.
"No, no, certainly; but Miss Melville has learned so much that is quite
valueless except in teaching--oh! a great many things quite out of the
way; but I meant that the groundwork was the same. Poor Alice! all this
odd training was thrown away on you."
"Not thrown away," said Brandon, firmly. "If it were not for Miss
Alice's diffidence she would soon let you know how much she has
profited by it. You should hear Peggy Walker on that subject."
"I am quite charmed with the estimation in which both you and my
brother hold that wonderful woman," said Miss Harriett,
condescendingly. "Stanley is quite enthusiastic about Peggy."
"And so am I, and with as good reason. Your brother owes her much, but
I think I owe her more."
"More!" said Harriett; "oh! I see. Peggy nursed and saved the lives of
Emily and little Harry, and perhaps of Mrs. Phillips, too, and my
brother is greatly indebted to her; but I suppose she nursed your
precious self through an illness all but mortal, so you are still more
grateful. I know that you gentlemen think a great deal of number one. I
understand the thing clearly."
Walter Brandon paused a minute. "No, it is not that, Miss Phillips; but
Peggy raised my opinion of all women. Her courage, her devotion, her
self-denial, and her truthfulness made me think more highly of all her
sex; and if ever I am blessed with a wife she will have cause to
cherish the memory of that homely Scotchwoman."
"To think that a gentleman who had a mother and sisters, should need
such a lesson from a woman like Peggy," said Harriett, incredulously.
"One's mother and sisters are always looked on as exceptional
people--placed like saints in a consecrated shrine," said Brandon; "but
here was a woman with no particularly careful training or education,
battling with the world alone and unprotected, and doing always the
right thing at the right time, and in the right way--and truly she has
her reward. Those orphan children will rise up and call her blessed,
and if she has no husband to do it, her own works will praise her in
the gates."
"I did not think that you knew as much of your Bible as to be able to
make so long a quotation," said Miss Phillips, who could not understand
or sympathize with Brandon's enthusiasm; but Elsie fully appreciated
this generous and well-deserved tribute to Peggy's character. She saw
now that she had been too rash in her rejection of her only lover. It
was only now that she had lost him for ever that she had discovered the
real goodness of his character; but she was pleased, very much pleased
to find out that Peggy's conduct had been understood and admired by Mr.
Brandon, and had done him such excellent service. To think him worthy
was delightful, even though she should never see anything more of him
henceforward. The colour rose to her cheek and the lustre to her eye,
and when Brandon's glance met her bright face, he could not help
confessing that she was very pretty, let the Phillipses say what they
pleased, and the idea of having a little conversation with her in the
evening was much more agreeable to him than Harriett would have at all
approved of.