d innocent. Still, she knew that
prudence was a virtue, and that Julia had thrown away money that might
have been much better employed.

"This is certainly a very beautiful handkerchief," observed the mother,
after examining me carefully, and with somewhat of the manner of a
connoisseur, "surprisingly beautiful; and yet I almost wish, my child,
you had not purchased it. A hundred dollars sounds frightfully en
prince for us poor simple people, who live in nutshells of houses, five
and twenty feet front, and fifty-six deep, to pay for a
pocket-handkerchief. The jewel-box of a young lady who has such
handkerchiefs ought to cost thousands, to be in keeping."

{en prince = princely; nutshells of houses = Cooper was frequently
critical of New York City's cramped townhouses}

"But, mother, I have only ONE, you will remember, and so my jewels may
be limited to hundreds."

"ONE pocket-handkerchief has a mean, sound, too. Even one hat is not
very superfluous."

"That is SO like Mary Warren, mother. If you did not wish me to make
the purchase, you had only to say it; I am sure your wish would have
been my law."

"I know it, love; and I am afraid it is your dutiful behavior that has
made me careless, in this instance. Your happiness and interests are
ever uppermost in my mind, and sometimes they seem to conflict. What
young man will dare to choose a wife from among young ladies who expend
so much money on their pocket-handkerchiefs?"

This was said smilingly, but there was a touch of tenderness and
natural concern in the voice and manner of the speaker that made an
impression on the daughter.

"I am afraid now, mother, you are thinking of Betts Shoreham," said
Julia, blushing, though she struggled powerfully to appear unconcerned.
"I do not know WHY it is, but both you and Mary Warren appear to be
always thinking of Mr. Shoreham."

The mother smiled; and she was not quite ingenuous when she said in
answer to the remark,

"Shoreham was not in my mouth; and you ought not to suppose he was in
my mind. Nevertheless, I do not believe he would admire you, or any one
else, the more for being the owner of so expensive an article of dress.
He is wealthy, but very prudent in his opinions and habits."

"Betts Shoreham was born to an estate, and his father before him," said
Julia firmly; "and such men know how to distinguish between the cant of
economy, and those elegancies of life that become people of refinement."

"No one ca