autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第14部分

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benefactress；　the　former；　who　had　a　fine　tact　in　matters　of　this　sort；
expressed　a　doubt　whether　the　dauphine　would　be　pleased　with　such　an
offering。

｛comme　il　faut　=　proper；　tant　soit　peu　de　=　ever　so　little　of；　｛worked　=
embroidered｝

〃Her　Royal　Highness；　like　all　cultivated　minds；　looks　for　fitness　in　her
ornaments　and　tastes。　What　fitness　is　there；　ma　chere；　in　converting　an
article　of　real　use；　and　which　should　not　be　paraded　to　one's　associates；
into　an　article　of　senseless　luxury。　I　know　there　are　two　doctrines　on　this
important　point〃

｛ma　chere　=　my　dear｝

But；　as　I　shall　have　occasion；　soon；　to　go　into　the　whole　philosophy　of
this　matter；　when　I　come　to　relate　the　manner　of　my　next　purchase；　I
will　not　stop　here　to　relate　all　that　Madame　de　la　Rocheaimard　said。　It　is
sufficient　that　she；　a　woman　of　tact　in　such　matters　at　least；　had　strong
doubts　concerning　the　TASTE　and　propriety　of　using　worked　pocket…
handkerchiefs；　at　all。

My　principal　objection　to　my　companions　in　the　drawer　was　their
incessant　senseless　repinings　about　France；　and　their　abuse　of　the
country　in　which　they　were　to　pass　their　lives。　I　could　see　enough　in
America　to　find　fault　with；　through　the　creaks　of　the　drawer；　and　if　an
American；　I　might　have　indulged　a　little　in　the　same　way　myself；　for　I　am
not　one　of　those　who　think　fault…finding　belongs　properly　to　the
stranger；　and　not　to　the　native。　It　is　the　proper　office　of　the　latter；　as　it　is
his　duty　to　amend　these　faults；　the　traveler　being　bound　in　justice　to　look
at　the　good　as　well　as　the　evil。　But；　according　to　my　companions；　there
was　NOTHING　good　in　Americathe　climate；　the　people；　the　food；
the　morals；　the　laws；　the　dress；　the　manners；　and　the　tastes；　were　all
infinitely　worse　than　those　they　had　been　accustomed　to。　Even　the
physical　proportions　of　the　population　were　condemned；　without　mercy。
I　confess　I　was　surprised　at　hearing　the　SIZE　of　the　Americans　sneered
at　by　POCKET…HANDKERCHIEFS；　as　I　remember　to　have　read　that
the　NOSES　of　the　New　Yorkers；　in　particular；　were　materially　larger
than　common。　When　the　supercilious　and　vapid　point　out　faults；　they
ever　run　into　contradictions　and　folly；　it　is　only　under　the　lash　of　the
discerning　and　the　experienced；　that　we　betray　by　our　writhings　the
power　of　the　blow　we　receive。

｛creaks　=　probably　a　typographical　errorCooper's　manuscript　read
〃cracks〃｝



CHAPTER　IX。

I　might　have　been　a　fortnight　in　the　shop；　when　I　heard　a　voice　as　gentle
and　lady…like　as　that　of　Adrienne；　inquiring　for　pocket…handkerchiefs。
My　heart　fairly　beat　for　joy；　for；　to　own　the　truth；　I　was　getting　to　be
wearied　to　death　with　the　garrulous　folly　of　my　companions。　They　had
so　much　of　the　couturieres　about　them！　not　one　of　the　whole　party　ever
having　been　a　regular　employee　in　genteel　life。　Their　niaisiries　were
endless；　and　there　was　just　as　much　of　the　low　bred　anticipation　as　to
their　future　purchases；　as　one　sees　at　the　balls　of　the　Champs　Elysee　on
the　subject　of　partners。　The　word　〃pocket…handkerchief；〃　and　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　back　ground；　as　a　skillful　general　holds　his　best　troops　in
reserve。

｛couturieres　=　dress　makers；　niaisiries　=　should　read　niaiseries；　French
for　silliness｝

The　customers　were　sisters；　that　was　visible　at　a　glance。　Both　were
pretty；　almost　beautifuland　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。　Bobbinet　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　reserved　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　every　thing　that　is　graceful　and
handsome；　and　especially　when　it　takes　the　form　of　needle…work。　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　lady…like　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　lades
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…
eyed　Anne。　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　its　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　on　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　Col。　Silky；　who　was　present；　en　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。

｛en　amateur　=　in　the　guise　of　a　connoisseur｝

〃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　'em　back；〃　observed
the　colonel；　in　his　elegant　way；　as　something　else。　There　are　a　sort　of
customers　that　don't　buy　promiscuously；　they　do　every　thing　by　rule。
They　don't　believe　that　a　nightcap　is　intended　for　a　bed…quilt。〃

Bobbinet　&　Co。　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　changed　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；　that　was　not　so
apparent　in　this　new　visiter；　but　the　dazzling　appearance　of　the　latter；　at
first；　blinded　me　to　her　faults；　and　I　saw　nothing　but　her　perfection。　The
interest　manifested　by　the　masterI　beg　his　pardon；　the　boss　of　the
storeand　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　Halfacrea　familiarity　that
showed　she　was　an　habituee　of　the　place；　and　considered　a　good
customer。

Luckily　for　the　views　of　Bobbinet　&　Co。；　we　were　all　still　lying　on　the
counter。　This　is　deemed　a　fortunate　circumstance　in　the　contingencies　of
this　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　pilea　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。　Bobbinet；　bowing　and
smiling；　if　his　face　had　been　half　as　honest　as　it　professed　to　be；　it　would
have　GRINNED。　〃I　am　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　Misses
Burton　have　just　seen　them；　and　THEY　pronounce　them　the　most
beautiful　articles　of　the　sort　they　have　ever　seen；　and　I　believe　they　have
been　over　half　the　world。〃

〃And　did　they　take　any；　Mr。　Bobbinet？　The　Miss　Burtons　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　PRICEthat　being　a　test　of　more　than　common
importance　with　the　present　customer。　I　sighed　when　I　remembered　that
poor　Adrienne　had　received　but　about　ten　dollars　for　MEan　article
worth　so　much　more　than　that　there　exhibited。

〃It　is　really　very　p