all she was half afraid that her boasting deceived nobody, and
Gertrude would never come to her aid with any little innocent fibs
about their grand visitors.

"I never did believe a word of it," repeated Madam, after a pause.
"Gertrude, why do you not answer when I speak to you? You are as
dull as a Dutch doll, sitting there and saying nothing. I would
that Frederick were at home! He can speak when he is spoken to; but
you are like a deaf mute!"

"I beg your pardon, ma'am. I was reading--I did not hear."

"That is always the way--reading, reading, reading! Why, what good
do you think reading will do you? Why don't you get your silk
embroidery or practise upon the spinnet? Such advantages as you
have! And all thrown away on a girl who does not know when she is
well off. I have no manner of patience with you, Gertrude. If I had
had such opportunities in my girlhood, I should never have been a
mere citizen's wife now."

A slightly mutinous look passed across Gertrude's face. Submissive
in word and manner, as was the rule of the day, she was by no means
submissive in mind, and had her mother's ears been sharper she
might have detected the undertone of irony in the reply she
received.

"I think nobody would take you for a citizen's wife, ma'am. As for
me, I am not made to shine in a higher sphere than mine own. I have
not even the patience to learn the spinnet. I would sooner be
baking pies with Rebecca next door, as we used to do when we were