Page:Doctor Thorne.djvu/123

Rh 'The first thing I'd do, would be to pronounce a positive edict that you should never go to Silverbridge again; at least without a day's notice.'

'Well, and what next? what would you do next?'

'The next thing—the next thing would be to send to Paris for a French bonnet exactly like the one Patience Oriel had on. Did you see it?'

'Well, I can't say I did; bonnets are invisible now; besides, I never remark anybody's clothes, except yours.'

'Oh! do look at Miss Oriel's bonnet the next time you see her. I cannot understand why it should be so, but I am sure of this—no English fingers could put together such a bonnet as that; and I am nearly sure that no French fingers could do it in England.'

'But you don't care so much about bonnets, Mary!' This the doctor said as an assertion; but there was, nevertheless, somewhat of a question involved in it.

'Don't I, though?' said she. 'I do care very much about bonnets; especially since I saw Patience this morning. I asked her how much it cost—guess.'

'Oh! I don't know—a pound?'

'A pound, uncle!'

'What! a great deal more? Ten pounds?'

'Oh, uncle!'

'What! more than ten pounds? Then I don't think even Patience Oriel ought to give it.'

'No, of course she would not; but, uncle, it really cost a hundred francs!'

'Oh! a hundred francs; that's four pounds, isn't it? Well, and how much did your last new bonnet cost?'

'Mine! oh, nothing—five and ninepence, perhaps; I trimmed it myself. If I were left a great fortune, I'd send to Paris to-morrow; no, I'd go myself to Paris to buy a bonnet, and I'd take you with me to choose it.'

The doctor sat silent for a while meditating about this, during which he unconsciously absorbed the tea beside him; and Mary again replenished his cup.

'Come, Mary,' said he at last, 'I'm in a generous mood; and as I am rather more rich than usual, we'll send to Paris for a French bonnet. The going for it must wait a while longer I am afraid.'

'You're joking.'

'No, indeed. If you know the way to send—that I must confess would puzzle me; but if you'll manage the sending, I'll manage the paying; and you shall have a French bonnet.'

'Uncle!' said she, looking up at him.