Charlotte looked round for the good customer spoken of by the chair-mender, but could see no finely-dressed lady engrossing the attention of the shop-people; no dainty gentleman pronouncing upon such articles as he might be presumed to understand. There was only an old woman buying nun's lace for her mob-cap; and a young woman, with a baby in her arms, comparing remnants of common print; and a child waiting patiently, with a hot half-penny squeezed in her hand, for a skein of thread; and a party of gipsies in red cloaks at the further end of the shop, with their backs turned to the new comers. Nurse was too busy putting on her spectacles, and holding gauze ribbons in various lights, to take any notice of what other people were doing, till the man who was serving her leaned over the counter to whisper that the customers yonder (nodding towards the gipsies) were choosing a very expensive dress for their queen to wear at the next of their festivals; and that it was to be made up by one of the first dress-makers in town. A stout country girl, who had followed nurse and her party, and taken her seat beside them, heard this as well as they; and from that moment her attention seemed bent upon the wearers of the red cloaks rather than upon her own purchases. She stepped forward a pace or two, when one of them turned at an accidental noise, and an immediate recognition took place, to the surprise and amusement of the shop-people. The gipsy strode forward, holding out her brown hand, and saying, "Why, Miss Rebecca, I thought the sea-shore was our meeting-place. So often as I have met you there, I never dreamed of seeing you in town parts." "Nor I neither, Mrs. Draper: but I am not long from home." "Only come for a little pleasure, Miss Rebecca. Well; you know I used to tell you that there was one that would give you what pleasure you liked, if you chose to ask. I dare say now----" And Mrs. Draper looked round, as if for some supposed companion of Rebecca's; but Rebecca answered, "Now, I told you, Mrs. Draper, long ago, to talk no nonsense; and I'm here buying things, you see----" "Ay, my dear; I see," said Mrs. Draper, looking no graver for being told that she talked nonsense. "I see; but how's the father?" "Why, but middling. Father's a wonderful hearty man for his years, to be sure, considering some things." "Ah! the ruin of the coast, which must have hurt his feelings. And dame,--how's the dame?" "O, she's well, and hobbling about, as usual. And I hope she'll keep well. Dame and me are going to keep school--a boarding-school for girls." Mrs. Draper laughed heartily at the idea of Rebecca teaching manners, as she said, and walking out behind her young ladies, two and two. "Ah! you may laugh," answered Rebecca, good-humouredly; "and I know many people think I'm not a bit fit for it; but I don't care what pains I take--I don't care what I do, if I could but see father smile."