The mother looked at her when she was trying it on, with the possession of love, and the dressmaker as if she herself had created her.
After supper Ellen had to try on the dress again for her father, and turn about slowly that he might see all its fine points.
"There, what do you think of that, Andrew ?" asked Fanny, triumphantly.
"Ain't she a lady ?" asked the dressmaker.
"It is very pretty," said Andrew, smiling with gloomy eyes.

Then he heaved a great sigh, and went out of the south door to the steps.
"Your father is tired to-night," Fanny said to Ellen with a meaning of excuse for the dressmaker.
The dressmaker reflected shrewdly on Andrew's sigh when she was on her way home.

"Men don't sigh that way unless there's money to pay," she thought.

"I don't believe but he has been speculating." Then she wondered if there was any doubt about her getting her pay, and concluded that she would ask for it from day to day to make sure.
So the next night after tea she asked, with one of her smirks of amiability, if it would be convenient for Mrs.Brewster to pay her that night.

"I wouldn't ask for it until the end of the week," said she, "but I have a bill to pay." She said "bill" with a murmur which carried conviction of its deception.