OT apply to
pocket-handkerchiefs."

"And yet," interrupted Clara, laughing, "if one can believe what one
reads, it applies to hackney-coaches, ferry-boats, doctors, lawyers,
and even the clergy. My father says it is----"

"What? I am curious to know, Clara, what as plain speaking a man as Mr.
Caverly calls it."

"He is plain speaking enough to call it a ---- HUMBUG," said the
daughter, endeavoring to mouth the word in a theatrical manner. "But,
as Othello says, the handkerchief."

{Othello says... = "Fetch me the handkerchief," Shakespeare, "Othello,"
Act III, Scene 4, line 98}

"Oh! Fifty dollars go to the poor girl who does the work, twenty-five
more to the odious custom-house, some fifteen to rent, fuel, lights,
and ten, perhaps, to Mr. Bobbinet, as profits. Now all this is very
good, and very useful to society, as you must own."

Alas, poor Adrienne! Thou didst not receive for me as many francs as
this fair calculation gave thee dollars; and richer wouldst thou have
been, and, oh, how much happier, hadst thou kept the money paid for me,
sold the lace even at a loss, and spared thyself so many, many hours of
painful and anxious toil! But it is thus with human calculations, The
propositions seem plausible, and the reasoning fair, while stern truth
lies behind all to level the pride of understanding, and prove the
fallacy of the wisdom of men. The reader may wish to see how closely
Eudosia's account of profit and loss came to the fact, and I shall,
consequently, make up the statement from the private books of the firm
that had the honor of once owning me, viz.:

Super-extraordinary Pocket-handkerchief, &c., in account with Bobbinet
& Co.

DR.
To money paid, first cost, francs 100, at 5.25, -- $19.04
To interest on same for ninety days, at 7 per cent., -- 00.33
To portion of passage money, -- 00.04
To porterage, -- 00.00 1/4
To washing and making up, -- 00.25
-------------
$19 66 1/4

CR.
By cash paid by Miss Thimble, -- $1.00
By cash paid for article, -- 100.00
By washerwoman's deduction, -- 00.05
----------
101.05
----------
By profit, -- $81.39 3/4

As Clara Caverly had yet to see Mrs. Thoughtful, and pay Eudosia's
subscription, the former now took her leave. I was thus left alone with
my new employer, for the first time, and had an opportunity of learning
something of her true character, without the interposition of third
persons; for, let a friend have what hol