Mrs.Buller was truly kind, and I am sure that if I had depended in every way upon her, she would have given to my costume as much care as she bestowed upon that of her own daughters.

But my parents had not been poor; there was no lack of money for my maintenance, and thus "no reason," as Aunt Theresa said, why my clothes should not be "decent," and "decent" with Aunt Theresa and her friends was a synonym for "fashionable." Thus my first black frock was such an improvement (in fashion) upon the pink silk one, as to deprive my deep mourning of much of its gloom.

Mrs.
(Colonel) St.Quentin could not refuse to lend one of her youngest little girl's frocks as a copy, for "the poor little orphan"; and a bevy of ladies sat in consultation over it, for all Mrs.St.Quentin's things were well worth copying.
"Keep a paper pattern, dear," said Mrs.Minchin; "it will come in for the girls.

Her things are always good." And Mrs.Buller kept a paper pattern.
I remember the dress quite clearly.

It is fixed in my mind by an incident connected with it.