It was indeed only for some small occasional necessity
she ever crossed the threshold of the place whence came all the
money she had to spend. When she did, she entered it with such
airs as she imagined to represent the consciousness of the scion
of a county family: there is one show of breeding vulgarity
seldom assumes--simplicity. No sign of recognition would pass
between her husband and herself: by one stern refusal to
acknowledge his advances, she had from the first taught him that
in the shop they were strangers: he saw the rock of ridicule
ahead, and required no second lesson: when she was present, he
never knew it. George had learned the lesson before he went into
the business, and Mary had never required it. The others behaved
to her as to any customer known to stand upon her dignity, but
she made them no return in politeness; and the way she would
order Mary, now there was no father to offend, would have been
amusing enough but for the irritation its extreme rudeness caused
her. She did, however, manage sometimes to be at once both a
little angry and much amused. Small idea had Mrs. Turnbull of the
diversion which on such occasions she afforded the customers
present.
One day, a short time before her marriage, delayed by the illness
of Mr. Redmain, Miss Mortimer happened to be in the shop, and was
being served by Mary, when Mrs. Turnbull entered.
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