Mrs.Chapman expected distinguished company that day, and had arrayed herself in a tantalizing amount of finery.

For the first time, too, she had put her hair up in puffs, which was the fashion of the day in Bowling Green.

Indeed the lady flattered herself that there was nothing in Bowling Green that could excel her in the magnificence of her upholstery.
"Expecting company to-day, very distinguished company, too," said Mrs.
Chapman, advancing and bowing her head oppressively, "and how very annoying not to be dressed as one wants to be." After viewing herself in the glass for several minutes, turning first one side and then the other, viewing and reviewing her skirts, and training her puffs into more exact platoon, she turned to Mattie, and resumed, "Now tell me, my daughter, how do my skirts hang?
Does my dress become me?
Do puffs become me?
You see my face is a little broad--puffs will, I am afraid, make it look disadvantageously broad.

Tell me now, my daughter, am I presentable ?" Mrs.Chapman waited with an air of self-admiration for a reply.

"You have such good taste in such matters, my daughter;" she concluded.
"Why, mother," replied Mattie, smiling and viewing her mother from head to foot, "how very worldly you are getting, and so vain.