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worked French pocket…handkerchief。〃
｛Sir Walter Scott = British novelist and poet （1771…1832）； often
compared with CooperI have not located his definition of 〃vulgar〃｝
〃Sir Walter Scott's definition of what is vulgar is open to criticism； I
fancy。 The word comes from the common mind； or common practices；
beyond a question； but it now means what is common as opposed to
what is cultivated and refined。 It is an absurdity； too； to make a thing
respectable because it is common。 A fib is one of the commonest things
in the world； and yet it is scarcely respectable。〃
〃Oh！ Every one says you are a philosopherESS； Mary； and I ought to
have expected some such answer。 But a handkerchief I am determined
to have； and it shall be the very handsomest I can find。〃
〃And the DEAREST？ Well； you will have a very lady…like wardrobe
with one pocket…handkerchief in it！ I wonder you do not purchase a
single shoe。〃
〃Because I have TWO feet；〃 replied Julia with spirit； though she laughed
good…naturedly〃but here is the clerk； and he must not hear our
quarrels。 Have the goodness； sir； to show me the handsomest pocket…
handkerchief in your shop。〃
I was drawn from beneath the pile and laid before the bright black eyes
of Julia； with an air of solemn dignity； by the young dealer in finery。
〃That； ma'am；〃 he said； 〃is the very finest and most elegant article not
only that WE have； but which is to be found in America。 It was brought
out by 'our Mr。 Silky；' the last voyage； HE said PARIS cannot produce
its equal。〃
〃This IS beautiful； sir； one must admit！ What is the price？〃
〃Why； ma'am； we OUGHT in justice to ourselves to have 120 for that
article； but； to our regular customers I believe Mr。 Bobbinet has
determined to ask ONLY 100。〃
This sounded exceedingly liberalto ask ONLY 100 for that for
which there was a sort of moral obligation to ask 120！and Julia
having come out with the intent to throw away a hundred…dollar note
that her mother had given her that morning； the bargain was concluded。
I was wrapped up carefully in paper； put into Miss Monson's muff； and
once more took my departure from the empire of Col。 Silky。 I no longer
occupied a false position。
〃Now； I hope you are happy； Julia；〃 quietly observed Mary Warren； as
the two girls took their seats side by side in Mrs。 Monson's chariot。
〃The surprise to me is； that you forgot to purchase this ne plus ultra of
elegance while in Paris last summer。〃
｛chariot = a light； four…wheeled carriage with only back seats； ne plus
ultra = peak； ultimate｝
〃My father said he could not afford it； we spent a great deal of money；
as you may suppose； in running about； seeing sights； and laying in
curiosities； and when I hinted the matter to my mother； she said we must
wait until another half year's rents had come round。 After all； Mary；
there is ONE person at home to whom I shall be ashamed to show this
purchase。〃
〃At home！is there； indeed？ Had you merely said 'in town' I could have
understood you。 Your father and mother approving of what you have
done； I do not see who there is AT HOME to alarm you。〃
Julia blushed when her friend said 〃in town；〃 and her conscious feelings
immediately conjured up the image of a certain Betts Shoreham； as the
person in her companion's mind's eye。 I detected it all easily enough；
being actually within six inches of her throbbing heart at that very
moment； though concealed in the muff。
〃It is not what you suppose； Mary； nor WHOM you suppose；〃
answered my mistress； 〃I mean Mademoiselle HennequinI confess I
DO dread the glance of her reproving eye。〃
〃It is odd enough that you should dread reproval from the governess of
your sisters when you do not dread it from your own mother！ But
Mademoiselle Hennequin has nothing to do with you。 You were
educated and out before she entered your family； and it is singular that a
person not older than yourself； who was engaged in Paris so recently；
should have obtained so much influence over the mind of one who never
was her pupil。〃
〃I am not afraid of her in most things；〃 rejoined Julia； 〃but I confess I am
in all that relates to taste； particularly in what relates to extravagance。〃
〃I have greatly misunderstood the character of Mademoiselle Hennequin
if she ventured to interfere with you in either！ A governess ought not to
push her control beyond her proper duties。〃
〃Nor has Mademoiselle Hennequin；〃 answered Julia honestly。 〃Still I
cannot but hear the lessons she gives my sisters； andyesto own the
truth； I dread the glance she cannot avoid throwing on my purchase。 It
will say； 'of what use are all my excellent lessons in taste and prudence；
if an elder sister's example is to counteract them？' It is THAT I dread。〃
Mary was silent for fully a minute； then she smiled archly； as girls will
smile when certain thoughts cross their playful imaginations； and
continued the discourse。
〃And Betts Shoreham has nothing to do with all this dread？〃
〃What is Betts Shoreham to me； or what am I to Betts Shoreham？ I am
sure the circumstances that we happened to come from Europe in the
same packet； and that he continues to visit us now we are at home； do
not entitle him to have a veto； as they call it； on my wardrobe。〃
〃Not YET； certainly； my dear。 Still they may entitle him to have this
VETO； in petto。〃
｛in petto = in private （Italian）｝
I thought a shade passed over the features of the pretty Julia Monson as
she answered her friend； with a seriousness to show that she was now
in earnest； and with a propriety that proved she had great good sense at
bottom； as well as strong womanly feeling。
〃If I have learned nothing else by visiting Europe；〃 she said； 〃I have
learned to see how inconsiderate we girls are in America； in talking so
much； openly； of this sort of thing。 A woman's delicacy is like that of a
tender flower； and it must suffer by having her name coupled with that
of any man； except him that she is to marry。〃
〃Julia； dear； I will never speak of Mr。 Shoreham again。 I should not
have done it now had I not thought his attentions were acceptable to
you； as I am sure they are to your parents。 Certainly； they are VERY
markedat least； so others think as well as myself。〃
〃I know it SEEMS so to the WORLD；〃 answered Julia in a subdued；
thoughtful tone； 〃but it scarcely seems so to ME。 Betts Shoreham is
very agreeable； every way a suitable connection for any of us； and that
is the reason people are so ready to fancy him in earnest。〃
〃In earnest！ If Mr。 Shoreham pays attentions that are pointed； and is not
in earnest； he is a very different person from what I took him to be。〃
Julia's voice grew still more gentle； and it was easy enough to see that
her feelings were enlisted in the subject。
〃It is no more than justice to Betts Shoreham；〃 she continued； 〃to say
that he has NOT been pointed in his attentions to ME。 We females are
said to be quick in discovering such matters； and I am not more blind
than the rest of our sex。 He is a young man of good family； and has
some fortune； and that makes him welcome in most houses in town；
while he is agreeable； well…looking； and thoroughly amiable。 He met us
abroad； and