"That ashes-of-roses lawn is the prettiest thing I've seen yet. Mrs. Cord, she don't want all these?" "So I say," returned the nurse; "but I wasn't consulted. That aint all; you should have seen the ruffles, and the ribbands, and the pockethandkerchiefs; and then he took her somewhere, Stewart's, I shouldn't wonder, and got her gloves and gloves; and then a lovely Leghorn hat, with a brim wide enough to swallow her up. And now you must make up these muslins, and let us have one soon; for my master is in a hurry." The little mantua-maker contemplated the muslins, and things generally. "There's not the first sign o' black among 'em all! Not a line, nor a sprig, nor a dot." "Maybe that's English ways," returned the nurse; "but if it is, I never heerd so before." "Well I like to see mournin' put on, if it's only respect," went on the dress-maker; "and a girl hadn't ought to be learnt to forget her own mother, before she's well out of sight. I'd ha' dressed her in black, poor as I am, and not a sign o white about her, for one year at least. I think it looks sort o' rebellious, to do without it. Why I've known folks that would put on mourning if they hadn't enough to eat; and I admire that sort o' sperit." The nurse nodded. "Just look here, now! What's he thinkin' about, Mrs. Cord?" "Just that question I've been askin' myself, Mrs. Marble; and I can't get no answer to it." "What's he goin' to do with her?" "He says, send her to school." "These aint for school dresses." "O no; these are to go ridin' about in, with him." "Well _I_ think, somebody ought to take charge of her. A young man like that, aint the person to do it Taint likely he's goin' to bring her up to marry her, I suppose." "She's too young for such thoughts," said the nurse. "She's young, but she aint far from bein' older," Mrs. Marble went on significantly. "When a girl's once got to fifteen, she's seventeen before you can turn round." "There'll have to be somebody else to wait upon her, I know, besides me," returned the nurse. "That aint my business. And it's all I'm wanted for now. Nobody can say a word to my young lady if it isn't the gentleman hisself; and she's with him all the while, and not with me. I aint goin' to put up with it long, I can tell 'em." Mr. Digby's pay was good however, and Mrs. Cord did not find it convenient to give notice immediately; and also the muslin dresses were made and well made, and sent home to the day.