Turnbull came in, which
happily was but seldom, she felt as if from some sepulchre in her
mind a very demon sprang to meet her. For she behaved to her
worst of all. She would heave herself in with the air and look of
a vulgar duchess; for, from the height of her small
consciousness, she looked down upon the shop, and never entered
it save as a customer. The daughter of a small country attorney,
who, notwithstanding his unneglected opportunities, had not been
too successful to accept as a husband for his daughter such a
tradesman as John Turnbull, she arrogated position from her idea
of her father's position; and, while bitterly cherishing the
feeling that she had married beneath her, obstinately excluded
the fact that therein she had descended to her husband's level,
regarding herself much in the light of a princess whose disguise
takes nothing from her rank. She was like those ladies who,
having set their seal to the death of their first husbands by
marrying again, yet cling to the title they gave them, and
continue to call themselves by their name.
Mrs. Turnbull never bought a dress at the shop. No one should say
of her, it was easy for a snail to live in a castle! before they
did what was irrevocable. They are little better than children
now."
"The thing is absolutely impossible," said Godfrey, and haughtily
rose from his chair like one in authority ending an interview.
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