bustle_, which is now considered by all ladies an
indispensable article of dress."

"You are right: it is a disgusting fashion, which destroys the grace and
just proportions of the female form. A monstrous piece of absurdity,
that I have never adopted, and never will."[A]

[A] During twenty years Flora kept her word.

"Bravo! Bravo!" shouted Miss Wilhelmina, clapping her hands in an
ecstasy of delight. "I have conquered you with your own weapons. There
is no slipping past the horns of that dilemma. You refuse to wear a
hump on your back, and I decline the honour of the long petticoats. Let
us hear how you can justify yourself?"

"You have gained an advantage by my own admission," said Flora; "but I
can't consider myself beat."

"Fairly out of the field, my dear--fairly out of the field. Acknowledge
the defeat with a good grace. Let us shake hands, and drink a glass of
wine together in token of peace."

"I never keep wine in the house," said Flora, rather embarrassed, at the
request, particularly at such an early hour of the day.

"Never keep wine in your house! Why, how do you contrive to keep up your
spirits, without a glass of wine now and then?"

"We are young, and require no artificial stimulants, to render us
cheerful and happy."

"Well, I require stimulants," said Miss Wilhelmina, "with the violent
exercise I take. I do not object to a glass of brandy-and-water, or even
of gin, when I feel exhausted."

"If you feel ill, Miss Carr, I will send out and get some."

"Ill! Lord bless you! I never was ill for an hour in my life. So, you
cannot afford a little luxury like wine? My child, I pity you: I am sure
you require it. I wish you were better off."

"I shall never quarrel with Providence, from whom we have received so
many blessings, on that account," said Flora; "I am very grateful for
the real comforts we enjoy."

"Poor comfort!" quoth Miss Wilhelmina. "My ideas of comfort are always
associated with wealth. I maintain, that no one can really be
comfortable without it. What should I be, without money? An antiquated,
despised old maid--and with all my expensive habits, and queer notions,
the very boys in the village would hold me in derision. For even boys
know the importance of money, and let me pass unmolested through the
midst of them."

"I perceive that you are very popular with the young folks," said Flora.

"All bribery and corruption, my dear. Boys are but men abridged and
cramped down