Page:Evelina (1778 Volume 1).pdf/175

 "O, as to that," cried Miss Branghton, "if our hats are too high, we'll take them off when we get in. I sha'n't mind it, for I did my hair on purpose."

Another party then approaching, the door-keeper could no longer attend to Mr. Branghton, who, taking up the guinea, told him it should be long enough before he'd see it again, and walked away.

The young ladies, in some confusion, expressed their surprise, that their papa should not know the opera prices, which for their parts they had read in the papers a thousand times.

"The price of stocks" said he, "is enough for me to see after; and I took it for granted it was the same thing here as at the play-house."

"I knew well enough what the price was," said the son, "but I would not speak, because I thought perhaps they'd take less, as we're such a large party."

The sisters both laughed very contemptuously at this idea, and asked him if he ever heard of people's abating any thing at a public place?

"I don't know whether I have or no," answered he, "but I'm sure if they would, you'd like it so much the worse."

"Very true, Tom, cried Mr. Brangh-