Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/277

Rh Iangy combed. I got there before they did, and found a neighboring lady there with her. She sat before the glass while I was combing her, and hearing a slight noise at the door, I glanced in the mirror, and saw somebody peeping in, then the door was shut, and I heard their foot steps going down stairs. In a few moments the servant came up and requested her to go down to the parlor, as there was a lady there who wanted to see her.

She excused herself to me and went. After a little, she came up again; she was perfectly colorless, and evidently out of humor. After sitting down and trying to compose herself, she said, "Why, you are Iangy. What is the reason you deceived me so?" I told her, "Madam, the reason I did so, was because I found you inclined to speak harshly of one you had never seen, but only knew from the report of others."

At this moment two ladies came up stairs that I knew, and after asking me, laughingly, what game I had been playing with their friend, commenced talking about different persons. At last mentioning a certain lady's name, they asked if I combed her, I told them no, I did not, as I combed none but ladies. They then wanted to know what I thought constituted a lady. Laying down my work, I rose to my feet and said, "Ladies, I can not tell you what I think constitutes a lady, and keep my seat. I must get up. I do not think all those are ladies who sit in high places, or those who drive round in tine carriages, but those only are worthy the name who can trace back their generations without stain, honest and respectable, that love and fear God, and treat all creatures as they merit, regardless of nations, stations or wealth. These are what I