Prev | Current Page 452 | Next

Braddon, M. E. (Mary Elizabeth), 1835-1915

"Phantom Fortune, a Novel"

She flitted about their showrooms like a beautiful butterfly
hovering over a flower-bed--her eye caught by every novelty. She never
asked the price of anything: and Lady Kirkbank informed them, in
confidence, that she was a great heiress, with a millionaire grandmother
who indulged her every whim. Other high born young ladies, shopping upon
fixed allowances, and sorely perplexed to make both ends meet, looked
with eyes of envy upon this girl.
And then came the visit to the dressmaker. It happened after all that
Kate Kearney was not intrusted with Lady Lesbia's frocks. Miss Kearney
was the fashion, and could pick and choose her customers; and as she was
a young lady of good business aptitudes, she had a liking for ready
money, or at least half-yearly settlements; and, finding that Lady
Kirkbank was much more willing to give new orders than to pay old
accounts, she had respectfully informed her ladyship that a pressure of
business would prevent her executing any further demands from Arlington
Street, while the necessity of posting her ledger obliged her to request
the favour of an immediate cheque.


Pages:
440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464