Miss Pratt was astonished, and instantly, as
her custom was, sought the advice of her sister, Miss Hannah Pratt,
who had charge of the wardrobes and household matters generally.
Miss Hannah Pratt was never in the best of tempers, and just now was
a little worse than usual. It was one of the rules of the school
that no tradesmen's daughters should be admitted, but it was very
difficult to draw the line, and when drawn, the Misses Pratt were
obliged to admit it was rather ridiculous. There was much debate
over an application by an auctioneer. He was clearly not a
tradesman, but he sold chairs, tables and pigs, and, as Miss Hannah
said, used vulgar language in recommending them. However, his wife
had money; they lived in a pleasant house in Lewes, and the line went
outside him. But when a druggist, with a shop in Bond Street,
proposed his daughter, Miss Hannah took a firm stand. What is the
use of a principle, she inquired severely, if we do not adhere to it?
On the other hand, the druggist's daughter was the eldest of six, who
might all come when they were old enough to leave home, and Miss
Pratt thought there was a real difference between a druggist and,
say, a bootmaker.
'Bootmaker!' said Miss Hannah with great scorn. 'I am surprised that
you venture to hint the remotest possibility of such a contingency.'
At last it was settled that the line should also be drawn outside the
druggist.
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