Phoebe, Junior

a pretence of superiority on his part, and partly he was interested in herself, and was very well aware he should get no company so good in Carlingford, even with the drawback of the old shop-people among whom she lived. How strange it was to see her in the dress of which Mrs. Sam Hurst had raved, and of which even the young Nonconformist vaguely divined the excellence, putting her daintily-gloved hand upon old Tozer’s greasy sleeve, walking home with the shuffling old man, about whose social position no one could make the least mistake! He turned with them, with a sensation of thankfulness that it was in Grange Lane, Carlingford, where nobody knew him. As for Phoebe, no such comfort was in her mind; everybody knew her here, or rather, everybody knew old Tozer. No disguise was possible to her. The only way to redeem the position was to carry it with a high hand, as she did, holding her head erect, and playing her part so that all the world might see and wonder. “I think you had better come, Mr. Northcote, and have some tea,” she said graciously, when the awestricken young man was floundering in efforts to excuse himself. Old Tozer chuckled and rubbed his hands.

“Take Phoebe’s advice,” he said, “Phoebe’s the sensiblest girl I know; so was her mother before her, as married one of the most popular preachers in the connection, though I say it as shouldn’t. My old woman always said as our Phoebe was cut out for a minister’s wife. And Phoebe junior’s just such another,” cried the admiring grandfather. Heavens above! did this mean traps and snares for himself, or did the old shopkeeper think of him, Horace Northcote, as another possible victim? If he had but known with what sincere compassionate toleration Phoebe regarded him, as a young man whom she might be kind to, he might have been saved all alarm on this point. The idea that a small undistinguished Dissenting minister should think her capable of marrying him, was a humiliation which did not enter into Phoebe’s head.

XVII

A Public Meeting

Phoebe’s philosophy, however, was put to the test when, after the young pastor had taken tea and got himself away from the pressing hospitalities of the Tozers, her grandfather also disappeared to put on his best coat in order to attend the Meeting. Mrs. Tozer, left alone with her granddaughter, immediately proceeded to evolve her views as to what Phoebe was expected to do.

“I never see you out o’ that brown thing, Phoebe,” she said; “ain’t you got a silk dress, child, or something that looks a bit younger-looking? I’d have thought your mother would have took more pride in you. Surely you’ve got a silk dress.”

“Oh, yes, more than one,” said Phoebe, “but this is considered in better taste.”

“Taste, whose taste?” cried the old lady; “my Phoebe didn’t ought to care for them dingy things, for I’m sure she never got no such example from me. I’ve always liked what was bright-looking, if it was only a print. A nice blue silk now, or a bright green, is what you’d look pretty in with your complexion. Go now, there’s a dear, and put on something very nice, something as will show a bit; you’re going with your grandfather to this Meeting.”

“To the Meeting? oh, I hope not,” said Phoebe with fervour.

“And why should you hope not? isn’t it natural as a young creature like you should get out a bit when she can, and see what’s to be seen? I don’t hold with girls moping in a house. Besides, it’s very instructive, as I’ve always heard: and you as is clever, of course you’ll understand every word. Mr. Northcote is a nicish-looking sort of young man. Ministers mayn’t be much,” said Mrs. Tozer, “though just see how your papa has got on, my dear. Nobody else as Phoebe could have married would have got up in the world like that; you may make a deal more money in trade, but it ain’t so genteel, there’s always that to be said. Now it’s just as well as you should have your chance with the rest and let yourself be seen, Phoebe. Run, there’s a darling, and put on something bright, and a nice lace collar. You can have mine if you like. I shouldn’t grudge nothing, not a single thing I’ve got, to see you looking as nice as the best there; and so you will if you take a little pains. I’d do up my hair a bit higher if I was you; why, Phoebe, I declare! you haven’t got a single pad. Now what is the use of neglecting yourself, and letting others get ahead of you like that?”

“Pads are going out of fashion, grandmamma,” said Phoebe gravely, “so are bright colours for dresses. You can’t think what funny shades we wear in town. But must I go to this Meeting? I should not like to leave you alone. It is so much nicer for me to be here.”

“You are a good girl, you are,” said Mrs. Tozer admiringly, “and me as was frightened for a fine lady from London! But Tozer would say as it was my doing. He would say as it wasn’t natural for a young creature; and, bless you, they’ll all be there in their best⁠—that Pigeon and the others, and Mrs. Tom. I just wish I could go too, to see you outshine ’em all, which you’ll do if you take pains. Take a little more pains with your hair, Phoebe, mount it up a bit higher, and if you want anything like a bit of lace or a brooch or that, just you come to me. I should like Mrs. Tom to see you with that brooch as she’s always wanting for Minnie. Now why should I give my brooch to Minnie? I don’t see no reason for it, for my part.”

“Certainly not, grandmamma,”