"Whatever you do, don't let my girls see it; I'll be bound you won't
let your Eliza," said the Admiral, after a pinch of snuff to restore the
true balance of his principles; "Faith would pitch it straight into the
fire; but I am not quite so sure that my Dolly would. She loves a bit of
finery, and she looks well in it."
"Tonnish females," as the magazine of fashion called the higher class
of popinjays, would have stared with contempt at both Faith and Dolly
Darling in their simple walking-dress that day. Dowdies would have been
the name for them, or frumps, or frights, or country gawks, because
their attire was not statuesque or classic, as it should have been,
which means that they were not half naked.
Faith, the eldest sister, had meant to let young Dolly take the course
of her own stubbornness; but no sooner did she see her go forth alone
than she threw on cloak and hat, and followed. The day was unsuited for
classic apparel, as English days are apt to be, and a lady of fashion
would have looked more foolish, and even more indecent, than usual. A
brisk and rather crisp east wind had arisen, which had no respect for
persons, and even Faith and Dolly in their high-necked country dresses
had to handle their tackle warily.
Dolly had a good start, and growing much excited with the petulance of
the wind and with her own audacity, crossed the mouth of the brook at a
very fine pace, with the easterly gusts to second her.
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