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.