SUSAN GRAY. 83

box, and laid ali my clothes before them: but
I bad nothing fine to shew.

“Well,” said Mrs. Bennet, when she had -
examined all my gowns, “I cannot but wonder
that Mrs. Neale, who every body knows was of
a very good family, should like a servant about
her, dressed in such ordinary garments as these.
Indeed, Susan, you would look much better, if
you would dress a little smarter. I dare say
the old lady gave you a little money before she
died: now if you would spend a few shillings
at the next fair, in buying a bit of ribbon for
your hat, and a little trimming for your cloak,
and one or two lawn aprons, you would cut a
much more creditable figure, and look a vast
deal better in every respect.”

I smiled, and, wishing to tura the discourse,
said, ‘‘ Well, Madam, if you will bestow these
things upon me, I will not refuse to wear
them.”

‘Nay, that is quite out of the question,”
answered she; ‘(1 have nothing but what I
work for, and it is not to be supposed that IT
should have money to spend upon others.
But I know very well that you have money, if
you could find in your heart to lay it out.”

*¢] will answer for her,” said Charlotte,
‘that she has plenty. See, how she blushes.
She cannot deny that she has money. But
all I can say is this, that if she chooses to go
about in such ordinary clothes, she cannot
expect that people who cut a better figure
will be seen with her.”

On hearing these words, [ felt my anger