Perhaps this had cleared his senses to perceive habits of
consideration for the family, which he had never thought incumbent on
himself, whatever they might be in his brothers; and his eyes were
open, as they had never yet been, to his mother's straits. It was
chiefly indeed through his fastidiousness. His mother and Babie had
existed most of this time upon their Belforest wardrobe; indeed, the
former, always wearing black, was still fairly provided; but Babie,
who had not in those days been out, was less extensively or
permanently provided; and Allen objected to the style in which she
appeared in the enamelled carriage, "like a nursery governess out for
an airing."
"Or not so smart," said Babie, merrily putting on her little black
hat with the heron's plume, and running down stairs.
"She does not care," said Allen; "but mother, how can you let her?"
"I can't help it, Allen. We turned out all the old feathers and
flowers, to see if I could find anything more respectable; but things
don't last in Bloomsbury, and they only looked fit to point a moral,
and not at all to adorn a tail or a head."
"I should think not. But can't the poor child have something fresh,
and like other people ?"
No; her uncle had given her bridesmaid's dress, but there had been
expenses enough connected with the journey to Fordham to drain the
dress purse, and the sealskin cap that had been then available could
not be worn in the sun of June.
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