She represented, furthermore, that it was extremely awkward
to depend upon the equipages of friends; and she protested that it was
far beneath their dignity to hire a conveyance from a livery-stable. Her
father had succumbed. Along with the bills for the new carriage and pair
were bills for a coachman's hat and cape-coat. Besides these, there was
the first month's statement of board for Mabel and storage for the
carry-all--both having been crowded out of the cramped stable to another
across the alley.
"Yes," resumed Bingham, availing himself of Marshall's own figure, "the
young people are dancing--though no more briskly than they should; but
why may not the old people dance, too? When the young ones are making
their youth and their beauty and their cleverness tell as they do, may
they not _expect_ the old ones to come forward as well? Aren't there
times when they should do it in mere justice to themselves? After your
children have led so many more germans and adorned so many more
receptions and founded so many more clubs and really worked their way
into the life of the town, they may look to their father to put himself
in evidence also. One of them, I can swear, is already a little jealous
on your account."
"Jane? Oh yes; she is always trying to make her poor old father toe the
mark."
"She has plans for you--ambitions for you. If you meet the expectations
that the future is likely to develop, you will be carrying through a
pretty big contract.
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