She says that no fashion can
justify what is profane, and that it must be vulgar as well as wicked.
And she is frankness and simplicity itself."
Another thing that charmed him was her disinterestedness. She ordered him
to buy her a present every day, but it was never to cost above a
shilling. If an article could be found that cost exactly tenpence (a
favorite sum of hers), she was particularly pleased, and these shilling
presents were received with a flush of pleasure and brightening eyes. But
when one day he appeared with a diamond necklace, it was taken very
coldly, he was not even thanked for it, and he was made to feel, once for
all, that the tenpenny ones were the best investments toward her favor.
Then he found out that she was very prudent and rather stingy; of Spartan
simplicity in her diet, and a scorner of dress off the stage. To redeem
this she was charitable, and her charity and her economy sometimes had a
sore fight, during which she was peevish, poor little soul.
One day she made him a request.
"I can't bear you should think me worse than I am, and I don't want you
to think me better than I am."
Vane trembled.
"But don't speak to others about me; promise, and I will promise to tell
you my whole story, whenever you are entitled to such a confidence.
"When shall I be entitled to it?"
"When I am sure you love me.
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