The Argosy — page 281: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

262 Court Netherleigh. seemed, to me, never to appearin the same gown, whether at home or out ; and I begeed you to remember that our income was limited.” “You said I changed my dresses four times a day, Oscar.” “Well. Don’t you ?” “ But everybody else does. Some change them five times. You would not ike me to come down in the morning and go to bed at nig ht in the same dress, would you ?” ‘““T suppose not. It’s of no use asking me about dress, Selina. I scarcely know one gown from another. But it does strike me that you have a most extraordinary number of new things. Go out or comein when I will, there’s sure to be the -milliner’s porter and basket at the door.” “Would you have me look an object ?” “You never do look an object.” “Of course I don’t. I guard against it. Id give the world to go to this féte at the Burnhams’. Every soul will be there, but me.” ‘And why not you, 1f your heart 1s so set upon it? I think all such affairs a stupid bore: but that’s nothing.” ‘“Would you wish me to go there in a petticoat?” ‘““No, I suppose not. I tell youl am no judge of a lady’s things. I don’t think I should know a petticoat from a gown. ‘Those are gowns, are they not, hanging in rows round the walls in the rooms above, and covered up with sheets and tablecloths.” “Sheets and tablecloths! Oscar!” “My dear, they look like it.” ‘“Well—if they are gowns—there’s not one I can wear.” “They are all new recently,” said Mr. Dalrymple. ‘‘ What’s the matter with them ?” ‘““’There’s not one I can wear,” persisted his wife. “ But why ?” “Why!” repeated Mrs. Dalrymple, in quite a contemptuous tone, for she had no patience with ignorance. “You ought to know why !” ‘My dear, I really don’t. If you wish me to know, you must tell mae “TL have worn them all once,’ was the angry answer. ‘‘ And some twice, and some three times. And one Oscar,” she broke off, ‘““you remember that lovely one; a sky blue, shot with white; a robe a disposition i pt ‘What 1s ‘a disposition ’? ” ‘““Qh—a silk, flounced, and the flounces have some design upon them, embossed, or raised, sometimes of a different colour. That dress I have worn five times. I really have, Oscar; five times !” ‘“] wear my coats fifty times five.” “The idea of my being seen at Lady Burnham’s in a dress I have worn before! No, Id rather go in a petticoat, of the two evils, and hide my head for ever afterwards.” Gomicbooks (C(O) m