And now, when you've made dress, and all that, a necessity for me, you are going to snatch it away!" "Giving you money for dress is wasting it," cried the old lady.

"What is dress for?
Pray why, do you imagine, have I provided you with three and four dozen expensive dresses a year and hats and lingerie and everything in proportion?
Just to gratify your vanity?
No, indeed! To enable you to get a husband, one able to provide for you as befits your station.

And because I have been generous with you, because I have spared no expense in keeping you up to your station, in giving you opportunity, you turn on me and revile me!" "You HAVE been generous, Grandmother," said Margaret, humbly.

There had risen up before her a hundred extravagances in which the old lady had indulged her--things quite unnecessary for show, the intimate luxuries that contribute only indirectly to show by aiding in giving the feeling and air of refinement.

It was of these luxuries that Margaret was especially fond; and her grandmother, with an instinct that those tastes of Margaret's proved her indeed a lady--and made it impossible that she should marry, or even think of marrying, "foolishly"-- had been most graciously generous in gratifying them.