[1847. Mr. Duropus and Family. 95 



parlor has nothing in it but the bare floor and walls, a table and 

 a few old chairs." 



" I can't say how that may be, I was in the room they live in, 

 and, if any thing, it was more comfortable than this one." 



" There is no need of our living in this room," Mrs. Duropus 

 was tempted to say, but remembering the object in view, she 

 suppressed the remark. The good lady, together with her three 

 daughters, had simultaneously conceived the idea that it was un- 

 genteel to live in the kitchen. Hence, when in company, they 

 spoke of it as a dim and shadowy land, into which they rarely 

 made excursions. They were too well acquainted with Mr. Du- 

 ropus's notions, to make any attempt to dislodge him from the 

 time honored corner, or to make their own residence in the ' front 

 room,' other than theoretical. 



" I presume," continued Mr. Duropus, after a brief interval of 

 silence, " that Mr. Hardy feels that he can't afford to furnish a 

 room which is so little used as a parlor is, while he is in debt, 

 and has so many improvements to make on the farm." 



" That is always the way with you men. There are so many 

 improvements to be made on the farm, that the house can never 

 be made decent inside. Every old barn and rail fence and ditch 

 must be fixed first." 



It was plain that Mrs. Duropus was losing sight of the object 

 for which the house was put in extra order, and losing something 

 of the pleasantness of her voice, she perceived it, and made an 

 effort to repair the error; but her feelings were too much inter- 

 ested in the topic we have mentioned, to leave it without a few 

 more remarks. She moreover hoped she might give them a 

 bearing which might tell on her as yet secret purpose. 



" If he has some excuse for not furnishing the house, he has 

 no excuse for letting his girls go dressed as they do." 



" I don't know much about such things, but they always look 

 very nice at home and abroad." 



" It behooves those w^ho have only one or two frocks, to keep 

 them clean." 



" I should think it would be harder work to do so, and there- 

 fore they deserve the more credit for it." 



" I don't think their father deserves much credit for laying out 

 so much on his farm, and making his daughters do with only a 

 dress or two." 



"I don't know how many they have, I'm sure: they always 

 appear well dressed at meeting." 



" They have worn the same dresses at meeting and everywhere 

 else they have been, for a year, and will do so, I suppose, a year 

 longer." 



" It may be, and if they are kept nice, I don't see why they 

 shouldn't." 



