autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第13章

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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　pretty；　Mr。　Bobbinet；　very　pretty；　but　Miss　Monson
bought　one　not　quite　as　pretty；　at　Lace's；　and　SHE　payed　SIXTY…
FIVE；　if　I　am　not　mistaken。〃

〃I　dare　say；　we　have　them　at　much　higher　prices。　I　showed　YOU　this
only　that　you　might　see　that　OUR　SIXTIES　are　as　handsome　as　MR。
LACE'S　sixty…FIVES。　What　do　you　think　of　THIS？〃

〃That　IS　a　jewel！　What　IS　the　price；　Mr。　Bobbinet？〃

〃Why；　we　will　let　YOU　have　it　for　seventy；　though　I　do　think　it　ought　to
bring　five　more。〃

〃Surely　you　do　not　abate　on　pocket…handkerchiefs！　One　doesn't　like　to
have　such　a　thing　TOO　low。〃

〃Ah；　I　may　as　well　come　to　the　point　at　once　with　such　a　customer　as
yourself；　Miss　Halfacre；　here　is　the　article　on　which　I　pride　myself。
THAT　article　never　WAS　equalled　in　this　market；　and　never　WILL　be。〃

I　cannot　repeat　half　the　exclamations　of　delight　which　escaped　the　fair
Eudosia；　when　I　first　burst　on　her　entranced　eye。　She　turned　me　over
and　over；　examined　me　with　palpitating　bosom；　and　once　I　thought　she
was　about　to　kiss　me；　then；　in　a　trembling　voice；　she　demanded　the
price。

〃ONE　HUNDRED　DOLLARS；　ma'am；〃　answered　Bobbinet；
solemnly。　〃Not　a　cent　more；　on　my　honor。〃

〃No；　surely！〃　exclaimed　Eudosia；　with　delight　instead　of　alarm。　〃Not　a
HUNDRED！〃

〃ONE　HUNDRED；　Miss　Eudosia；　to　the　last　cent；　then　we　scarcely
make　a　living　profit。〃

〃Why；　Mr。　Bobbinet；　this　is　the　highest　priced　handkerchief　that　was
ever　sold　in　New　York。〃　This　was　said　with　a　sort　of　rapture；　the　fair
creature　feeling　all　the　advantage　of　having　so　good　an　opportunity　of
purchasing　so　dear　an　article。

〃In　America；　ma'am。　It　is　the　highest　priced　handkerchief；　by　twenty
dollars；　that　ever　crossed　the　Atlantic。　The　celebrated　Miss　Jewel's；　of
Boston；　only　cost　seventy…nine。〃

〃Only！　Oh；　Mr。　Bobbinet；　I　MUST　have　it。　It　is　a　perfect　treasure！〃

〃Shall　I　send　it；　Miss　Eudosia；　or　don't　you　like　to　trust　it　out　of　your
sight？〃

〃Not　yet；　sir。　To　own　the　truth；　I　have　not　so　much　money。　I　only　came
out　to　buy　a　few　trifles；　and　brought　but　fifty　dollars　with　me；　and　Pa
insists　on　having　no　bills。　I　never　knew　any　body　as　particular　as　Pa；　but
I　will　go　instantly　home　and　show　him　the　importance　of　this　purchase。
You　will　not　let　the　handkerchief　be　seen　for　ONE　houronly　ONE
hourand　then　you　shall　hear　from　me。〃

To　this　Bobbinet　assented。　The　young　lady　tripped　into　her　carriage；
and　was　instantly　whirled　from　the　door。　In　precisely　forty…three
minutes；　a　maid　entered；　half　out　of　breath；　and　laid　a　note　on　the
counter。　The　latter　contained　Mr。　Halfacre's　check　for　one　hundred
dollars；　and　a　request　from　the　fair　Eudosia　that　I　might　be　delivered　to
her　messenger。　Every　thing　was　done　as　she　had　desired；　and；　in　five
minutes；　I　was　going　up　Broadway　as　fast　as　Honor　O'Flagherty's　（for
such　was　the　name　of　the　messenger）　little　dumpy　legs　could　carry　me。



CHAPTER　X。

Mr。　Henry　Half　acre　was　a　speculator　in　town…lotsa　profession　that
was；　just　then；　in　high　repute　in　the　city　of　New　York。　For　farms；