of fortune could increase the charms of your--"

"Ma'ma," exclaimed Caroline, "we have passed the lace shop."

"So we have," said Mrs. Clifford; "but why should we go back--you
certainly don't mean to buy any--?"

"No, ma'ma; but I want some edging, and I might as well get it here,
if only to enjoy another look at the forbidden fruit."

The shop was one of those magnificent establishments of late years
common in large metropolises. A long hall led from the street quite
back through the building, or rather masses of buildings, to another
equally elegant entrance on the parallel street behind. The doors were
single sheets of heavy plate-glass. In the windows all the glittering
and precious treasures of India and Asia seemed draped in gorgeous
confusion, and blazed also through unbroken expanses of limpid glass
of yet larger dimensions than the doors. Silks, laces, Cashmere
shawls, damask, heavy and sumptuous velvets of bright colors, and fit
for a queen's train, muslins of bewildering beauty, dresses at L200 a
piece, and handkerchiefs of Manilla of almost fabulous value. The
interior presented similar displays on all sides, multiplied by
reflections from broad mirrors, gleaming among marble columns. Perhaps
those numerous mirrors were intended to neutralize the somewhat gloomy
effect of the low ceiling, not sufficiently elevated to admit the
necessary light into the central spaces. At various points, even in
the day-time, gas-lights burned brilliantly. Before the door were
drawn up half a dozen elegant coroneted equipages, the well-groomed,
shining horses, and richly-liveried coachmen, indicating the rank of
the noble owners; and on the benches before the windows lounged the
tall and handsome footmen, with their long gold-headed sticks,
powdered heads, gaudy coats, brightcolored plush breeches, and white
silk stockings, and gloves.

In the shop there were, perhaps, fifty persons, as it happened to be a
remarkably fine day in June--one of those grateful gifts from heaven
to earth which lure people irresistibly out of the dark and weary
home, and which, when first occurring, after a long and dismal winter,
as in the present instance, appear to empty into the sunshiny streets,
every inhabitant, the sick and the well, the lame and the blind alike,
from every house in town.

Caroline asked to be shown some of the lace which she had looked at
the day before. It was produced, and Mrs. Clifford and Franklin were
called to