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less in its elegance of finish. But the silk was forty-five and the cloth was forty, and the velvet was sixty dollars. I sat and looked at them. There is no denying that I wanted the silk or the cloth. Either of them would do. Either of them was utterly girl-like and plain, but both of them had the finish of perfection, in make, style, and material. I wanted the one or the other. But, if I had it, what would be left for Margaret? "Are you tired, Daisy?" said Dr. Sandford, bending down to look in my face. "No, sir. At least, that was not what I was thinking of." "When then?" said he. "Will one of these do?" "They would do," I said slowly. "But, Dr. Sandford, I should like to see something else--something that would do for somebody that was poorer than I." "Poorer?" said the doctor, looking funny. "What is the matter, Daisy? Have you suddenly become bankrupt? You need not be afraid, for the bank is in my pocket; and I know it will stand all your demands upon it." "No, but--I would indeed, if you please, Dr. Sandford. These things cost too much for what I want now." "Do you like them?" "I like them very well." "Then take whichever you like best. That is my advice to you, Daisy. The bank will bear it." "I think I must not. Please, Dr. Sandford, I should like to see something that would not cost so much. Do they _all_ cost as much as these?" The doctor gave the order as I desired. The shopman who was serving us cast another comprehensive glance at me--I had seen him give one at the beginning--and tossing off the velvet coat and twisting off the silk one, he walked away. Presently he came back with a brown silk, which he hung in the place of the velvet one, and a blue cloth, which replaced the black silk. Every whit as costly, and almost as pretty, both of them. "No," said the doctor,--"you mistook me. We want to look at some goods fitted for persons who have not long purses." "Something inferior to these--" said the man. He was not uncivil; he just stated the fact. In accordance with which he replaced the last two coats with a little grey dreadnought, and a black cloth; the first neat and rough, the last not to be looked at. It was not in good taste, and a sort of thing that I neither had worn nor could wear. But the grey dreadnought was simple and warm and neat, and would offend nobody. I looked from it to the pretty black cloth which still hung in contrast with it, the one of the first there
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