"I am very glad to see you,Miss Frost,"said Mrs.Peabody cordially,advancing to meet the school teacher."I've meant to call,but I couldn't seem to get time.I suppose you know some of these ladies.I'll introduce you to such as you don't know."So Mabel made the rounds and was generally introduced.Though the society was so unlike that in which she had been accustomed to mingle,she had a natural grace and tact which carried her through the ordeal easily and naturally.She finally found a seat next to Mrs.Priscilla Pulsifer,an old lady of an inquiring turn of mind,who was a new acquaintance,and promptly seized the opportunity to cross-examine Mabel,as she had long desired to do.
"You're the new school teacher,ain't you?""Yes,I am."
"How old be you?"asked the old lady,glaring at her through her glasses.
"Twenty two,"answered Mabel,resenting what she considered an impertinent question by a counter inquiry.How old are you,Mrs.Pulsifer?"
"Seventy one;and I ain't ashamed on't,either,"answered the old lady,bridling.
Mabel was already sorry for her question."Age is not a thing to be ashamed of,"she said."You don't look so old as that.""So folks say,"said Mrs.Pulsifer,quite appeased,and resuming her inquiries:"You're from the city,ain't you?""Yes."
"Ever taught afore?"
"This is my first school."
"How do you like teachin'?"
"Better than I expected.I feel repaid for my labor by watching the progress of the scholars.""How much wages do you get?"asked the old lady practically.
"Seven dollars a week."
"That's pooty good pay for a single gal,"remarked Mrs.Pulsifer.
"You don't have anybody dependent on you?""Do you mean a husband,Mrs.Pulsifer?"asked Mabel,her eyes sparkling with fun.
"I didn't know but you might have a mother,or brother an'sister,to support.""No,"said Mabel sadly,"I am alone in the world.""Sho!I s'pose you calc'late on bein'married some time,"said the old lady,with directness.
"Perhaps I may be,"said Mabel,amused,"but I can't say Icalculate on it."
"I guess you can get somebody to marry you,"said the practical old lady.
"You're good lookin',and are likely to please the men.Clarissa Bassett's tried hard,but somehow she don't make out."Miss Bassett was sitting at the other end of the room,and,fortunately,was engaged in conversation with Mrs.Hayden,so that she did not hear this last remark.
"Thank you,"said Mabel demurely."You quite encourage me.""I was twenty five myself before I was married,"continued Mrs.
Pulsifer."Not but what I had offers before.Maybe you've had a chance?"and the old lady scrutinized Mabel's countenance.
"Maybe I have,"she answered,wanting to laugh.
"That's a pooty gown you have on,"said Mrs.Pulsifer,her attention diverted by Mabel's dress."Was it made in the city?""Yes."
"Looks like nice cloth,"continued Mrs.Pulsifer,taking a fold between her thumb and finger.
"I think it is,"answered Mabel."How much was it a yard?""I'm afraid I don't remember,"Mabel replied.
The fact is,she had intrusted the purchase of her summer dresses to her dressmaker,who rendered her the bill in a lump.If there were any details she did not remember them.
"That's strange,"said the old lady,staring."I know the price of all the clothes I ever bought.""You probably have a better memory than I,"said Mabel,hoping by this compliment to turn the attack,but in vain.
"Haven't you any idee of the price?"asked the old lady.
"It may have been a dollar a yard."
"How many yards did you get?"
"I--am not sure."
"How much did you pay for that collar?"
"I am really sorry I can't tell you,"said Mabel,who felt somewhat embarrassed.
"Perhaps you don't like to tell."
"I would tell you with pleasure,if I knew.""'Pears to me you must be a poor manager not to keep more account of your expenses,"said Mrs.Pulsifer.
"I am afraid I am,"said Mabel.
"How many dresses did you bring with you,Miss Frost?"The old lady's catechizing was getting annoying,but Mabel understood that she meant no offense and answered patiently,"Six.""Did they all cost as much as this?"
"I should think so."
"I don't see how you can afford to spend so much on dress,"said Mrs.
Pulsifer,"considering you have only seven dollars a week salary.""I shall try to be more prudent hereafter,Mrs.Pulsifer.""You'd better.The men will be afraid to marry you if they think you're extravagant.I told my son Jotham,`Jotham,'says I,`don't you marry a woman that wants to put all her money on her back.'Says I,`An extravagant wife is a curse to a man that wants to be forehanded.'""Did your son follow your advice?"
"Yes;
he married a likely girl that makes all her own dresses.Jotham told me only last week that he didn't buy her but one dress all last year.""You must be pleased with your daughter-in-law,Mrs.Pulsifer.""Yes;she's pretty good as wives go nowadays,but I don't think she's a good cook.""That is a pity."
"Can you cook,Miss Frost?
"I don't know much about cooking."
Sho!
You'll want to know how when you're married.""When I see any chance of marrying I mean to take lessons,"said Mabel.
Just then,to Mabel's relief,supper was reported to be ready,and the members of the sewing society filed out with alacrity to the sitting room,where a long table was bountifully spread with hot biscuit,preserves,and several kinds of cake and pies.The mistress of the household,rather flushed by the heat of the kitchen,welcomed her guests,and requested them to take seats.Mabel took care not to sit in the neighborhood of Mrs.Pulsifer.The old lady's curiosity had come to be annoying,yet could not well be resented.
