Chapter 9
IX I might have been a fortnight in the shop when I heard a voice as gentle and ladylike as that of Adrianne inquiring for pocket-handkerchiefs. My heart fairly beat for joy, for, to own the truth, I was getting to be weary to death with the garrulous folly of my companions.
They had so much of the courturiers about them, not one of the whole party ever having been a regular employee in genteel life. The nasaries were endless, and there was just as much of a low bred anticipation as to their future purchases as one sees at the balls of the chomp a licey on the subject of partners. The word pocket-handkerchief, in that so sweetly pronounced, drew open our drawer, as it might be instinctively. Two or three dozen of us, all of exquisite
fineness, were laid upon the counter, myself and two or three more of the better class being kept a little in the background, as a skillful general holds his best troops in reserve. The customers were sisters, and that was visible at a glance. Both were pretty, almost beautiful, and there was an air of simplicity about their dress, a quiet and unobtrusive dignity in their manners, which at once announced them to be real ladies. Even the tones of their voices were
polished, a circumstance that I think one is a little apt to notice in New York. I discovered in the course of the conversation that they were the daughters of a gentleman of very large estate, and belonged to the true elite of the country. The manner in which the clerks received them, indeed, proclaimed this, for, though their other claims might not have so promptly extracted this homage, their known wealth would. Mr. Bobanet attended these customers in person, practiced
in all that portion of human knowledge which appertains to a salesman. He let the sweet girls select two or three dozen handkerchiefs of great beauty, but totally without ornament, and even pay for them, before he said a word on the subject of the claims of his reserve corps, when he thought the proper moment had arrived, however. One of the least decorated of our party was offered to the consideration of the young ladies. The sisters were named Anne and Maria, and I could see by the
pleasure that beamed in the soft blue eyes of the former that she was quite enchanted with the beauty of the article laid before her so unexpectedly. I believe it is in female human nature to admire everything that is graceful and handsome, and especially when it takes the form of needlework. The sweet girls praised handkerchief after handkerchief until I was laid before them, when their pleasure extracted exclamations of delight. All was done so quietly, however,
and in so ladylike a manner, that the attention of no person in the shop was drawn to them by this natural indulgence of surprise. Still I observed that neither of the young ladies inquired the prices, these being considerations that had no influence on the intrinsic value in their eyes. While the circumstance caused my heart to sink within me, as it clearly proved they did not intend to purchase, and I longed to become the property of the gentle, serene Idan,
after thanking Mr. Bobbinet for the trouble he had taken, they ordered their purchases sent home, and were about to quit the shop. Can't I persuade you to take this? demanded Bobbinet as they were turning away. There is not an equal in America. Indeed, one of the house, our Colonel Silky, who has just returned from Paris, says it was worked expressly for the Dauphine, who was prevented from getting it by the
late revolution. It is a pity so much lace and such exquisite work should be put in a pocket handkerchief, said Anne almost involuntarily, I fear if they were on something more suitable I might buy them. A smile, a slight blush, and curtsy concluded the interview, and the young ladies hastily left the shop. Mr. Bobbinet was disappointed as indeed was Colonel Silky, who was present and amateur, but the matter could not be helped, as these were customers who acted
and thought for themselves, and all the oily persuasion of shop eloquence could not influence them. It is quite surprising, Colonel, observed Mr. Bobbinet when his customers were properly out of hearing, that these young ladies should let such an article slip through their fingers. Their father is one of the richest men we have, and yet they never even asked the price. I fancy it was not so much the price that held them back, observed the Colonel in his elegant way,
as something else. There are a sort of customers that don't buy promiscuously. They do everything by rule. They don't believe that a nightcap is intended for a bed quilt. Bobbinet and company did not exactly understand his more sophisticated partner, but before he had time to ask an explanation the appearance of another customer caused his face to brighten and change the current of his thoughts. The person who now entered was an
exceedingly brilliant-looking girl of twenty, dressed in the height of fashion and extremely well, though a severe critic might have thought she was over-dressed for the streets. Still she had alighted from a carriage. Her face was decidedly handsome and her person exquisitely proportioned. As a whole I had scarcely ever seen a young creature that could lay claim to more of the loveliness of her sex. Both the young ladies who had just left us were pleasing and pretty,
and to own the truth there was an air of modest refinement about them. It was not so apparent in this new visitor, but the dazzling appearance of a latter at first blinded me to her faults, and I saw nothing but her perfection, the interest manifested by the master, I beg his pardon, the boss of the store, and the agitation among the clerks very plainly proved that much was expected from the visit of this young lady, who was addressed with a certain air of shop familiarity
as Miss Halfacre, a familiarity that showed that she was inhabituee of the place and considered a good customer. Luckily for the views of Bob and Adam Company we were all still lying on the counter. This is deemed a fortunate circumstance in the contingencies of the species of trade, since it enables the dealer to offer his uncalled for wares in the least suspicious and most natural manner. It was fortunate also that I lay at the bottom of the little pile, a climax being quite
as essential in sustaining an extortionate price as in terminating with due effect a poem, a tragedy, or a romance. Good morning, Miss Halfacre, said Mr. Bobanette bowing and smiling, if his face had been half as honest as it professed to be, it would have grinned. I'm glad you have come in at this moment, as we are about to put on sale some of the rarest articles in the way of pocket handkerchiefs that have ever come to this market. The Mrs. Burton have just seen them, and they
pronounce them the most beautiful articles of the sort they had ever seen, and I believe they have been over half the world. And did they take any, Mr. Bobanette? The Miss Burton's are thought to have taste. They have not exactly purchased, but I believe each of them has a particular article in her eye. Here is one, ma'am, that is rather prettier than any you have yet seen in New York. The price is sixty dollars. The word sixty was emphasized in a way to show the importance that
was attached to price, that being a test of more than common importance with the present customer. I sighed when I remembered that poor Adrienne had received about ten dollars for me, an article worth so much more than that there exhibited. It is really quite pretty, Mr. Bobanette, very pretty, but Miss Monson bought one not quite as pretty at Lace's, and she paid sixty-five, if I am not mistaken. I dare say we have them at much higher prices. I showed you this only that
you might see that our sixties are as handsome as Mr. Lace's sixty-fives. What do you think of this? That is a jewel. What is the price, Mr. Bobanette? Why, we will let you have it for seventy, though I do think it ought to bring five more. Surely you do not abate on pocket handkerchiefs. One does not like to have such a thing too, though. I may as well come to the point at once with such a customer as yourself, Miss Halfgaker. Here is the article on which I pride myself.
That article never was equaled in this market, and never will be. I cannot repeat half the exclamations of delight which escaped the fair Eudogea when I first burst on her entranced eye. She turned me over and over, examined me with palpitating bosom, and once I thought she was about to kiss me. Then in a trembling voice she demanded the price. One hundred dollars, ma'am? answered Bobanette solemnly. Not a cent more on my honor.
No, surely, exclaimed Eudogea with delight instead of alarm. Not a hundred? One hundred, Miss Eudogea, to the last cent. Then we scarcely make a living profit. Why, Mr. Bobanette, this is the highest-priced handkerchief that was ever sold in New York. This was said with a sort of rapture, the fair creature feeling all the advantage of having so good an opportunity of purchasing so dear an article.
In America, ma'am, it is the highest-priced handkerchief by twenty dollars that ever crossed the Atlantic. The celebrated Miss Jewels of Boston only costs seventy-nine. Only? Oh, Mr. Bobanette, I must have it. It is a perfect treasure. Shall I send it, Miss Eudogea, or don't you like to trust it out of your sight? Not yet, sir. To own the truth I have not so much money. I only came out to buy a few trifles,
and brought but fifty dollars with me. And Pa insists on having no bills. I never knew anybody as particular as Pa, but I will go instantly home and show him the importance of this purchase. You will not let the handkerchief be seen for one hour, only one hour, and then you shall hear from me. To this Bobanette assented. The young lady tripped into her carriage and was instantly whirled from the door. In precisely forty-three minutes a maid entered half out of breath and
laid a note on a counter. The latter contained Mr. Halfacre's check for one hundred dollars, and a request from the fair Eudogea that I might be delivered to her messenger. Everything was done as she had desired, and in five minutes I was going up Broadway as fast as Honour O'Flagarty's, for such was the name of the messenger. Little dumpy legs could carry me. End of chapter 9
