"Well, well, for once in my life--there's a nice piece of extravagance; but, as you've set your heart upon it, you shall be indulged, Barney. Take them both." And he dropped the two eagles, received that afternoon for what he had considered a bad debt, into her outstretched hand. It was thus that Mrs. Murden came into possession of her two dollar silk, the envy of her next door neighbor, Mrs. Keyser, her intimate friends, Mrs. Hopkins and Miss Lippincott, to whom it was shown in the piece. "How are you going to have it made?" asked Mrs. Keyser. "I'd have a basque, by all means, and have it open." Mrs. Keyser was one of those ladies who accomplish so much on a committee of foreign affairs, and so little in the home department. "Oh, so would I," said Miss Lippincott, who always assented to everything that was said. "I don't believe a basque would be becoming," enviously interposed Mrs. Hopkins, who was herself remarkably stout and dumpy in figure. "Perhaps not," said Miss Lippincott; "very likely not." "I don't believe Miss Johns could fit a basque either," pursued Mrs. Hopkins, who had no intention of being outdone by her neighbor; _her_ dresses were all made for the winter. "Nor I," added Miss Lippincott. "I wouldn't trust Miss Johns to put scissors into _that_ silk anyhow," Mrs. Keyser said; for, having relations living in Spruce Street, she was considered to have unusual claims to knowingness in matters of fashion, and was not slow to put them forth. "Surely," thought Mrs. Murden, "it never would do. Miss Johns was well enough for a plain dress; but a _two dollar silk!_" "How I wish you could afford to have it made at Miss Stringer's now," continued Mrs. Keyser. "Emma Louisa always has everything done there, and so does Mrs. Coleman, she's so intimate with, and Mrs. George Barker. You never saw such splendid fits." It is presumed that Mrs. Keyser did _not_ allude to convulsions; but Mrs. Hopkins always elevated her little flat _nez_ on a mention of these Spruce Street relatives; for every one knows she said to Miss Lippincott, as they walked down the street together-- "Every one knows that she never is invited there when any one else is expected, not even to the wedding. _I_ wouldn't own such relations, if I had shoals of them; would you, Miss Lippincott?" "No, indeed," returned that lady, with unusual animation for her, for she was rather worn out with allusions to the Spruce Street relations herself, in an intimacy of some months' standing.