by a bevy of young friends； all silent together； and all dying to see me。
To deny the deep gratification I felt at the encomiums I received； would
be hypocrisy。 They went from my borders to my centrefrom the lace
to the hemand from the hem to the minutest fibre of my exquisite
texture。 In a word； I was the first hundred…dollar pocket…handkerchief
that had then appeared in their circles； and had I been a Polish count；
with two sets of moustaches； I could not have been more flattered and
〃entertained。〃 My fame soon spread through the rooms； as two little
apartments； with a door between them that made each an alcove of the
other； were called； and even the men； the young ones in particular；
began to take an interest in me。 This latter interest； it is true； did not
descend to the minutiae of trimmings and work； or even of fineness； but
the 〃three figure〃 had a surprising effect。 An elderly lady sent to borrow
me for a moment。 It was a queer thing to borrow a pocket…
handkerchief； some will think； but I was lent to twenty people that night；
and while in her hands； I overheard the following little aside； between
two young fashionables； who were quite unconscious of the acuteness
of the senses of our family。
〃This must be a rich old chap； this Halfacre； to be able to give his
daughter a hundred…dollar pocket…handkerchief； Tom； one might do
well to get introduced。〃
〃If you'll take my advice； Ned； you'll keep where you are；〃 was the
answer。 〃You've been to the surrogate's office； and have seen the will of
old Simonds； and KNOW that he has left his daughter seventy…eight
thousand dollars； and； after all； this pocket…handkerchief may be only a
sign。 I always distrust people who throw out such lures。〃
〃Oh； rely on it； there is no sham here； Charley Pray told me of this girl
last week； when no one had ever heard of her pocket…handkerchief。〃
〃Why don't Charley； then； take her himself？ I'm sure； if I had HIS
imperial； I could pick and choose among all the second…class heiresses
in town。〃
｛imperial = wealth （from a Russian gold coin）｝
〃Ay； there's the rub； Tom； one is obliged in our business to put up with
the SECOND class。 Why can't we aim higher at once； and get such
girls as the Burtons； for instance？〃
〃The Burtons have； or have had； a mother。〃
〃And haven't all girls mothers？ Who ever heard of a man or a woman
without a mother！〃
〃True； physically； but I mean morally。 Now this very Eudosia Halfacre
has no more mother； in the last sense； than you have a wet…nurse。 She
has an old woman to help her make a fool of herself； but； in the way of
a mother； she would be better off with a pair of good gum…shoes。 A
creature that is just to tell a girl not to wet her feet； and when to cloak
and uncloak； and to help tear the check…book out of money； is no more
of a mother than old Simonds was of a Solomon； when he made that
will which every one of us knows by heart quite as well as he knows the
constitution。〃
Here a buzz in the room drew the two young men a little aside； and for
a minute I heard nothing but indistinct phrases； in which 〃removal of
deposites；〃 〃panic；〃 〃General Jackson；〃 and 〃revolution；〃 were the only
words I could fairly understand。 Presently； however； the young men
dropped back into their former position； and the dialogue proceeded。
｛General Jackson。。。 = President Andrew Jackson in 1833 withdrew the
federal government deposits from the Bank of the United States； leading
to a major financial panic｝
〃There！〃 exclaimed Ned； in a voice louder than was prudent； 〃THAT is
what I call an escape！ That cursed handkerchief was very near taking
me in。 I call it swindling to make such false pretensions。〃
〃It might be very awkward with one who was not properly on his guard；
but with the right sort there is very little danger。〃
Here the two elegants led out a couple of heiresses to dance； and I
heard no more of them or of their escapes。 Lest the reader； however；
should be misled； I wish to add； that these two worthies are not to be
taken as specimens of New York morality at allno place on earth
being more free from fortune…hunters； or of a higher tone of social
morals in this delicate particular。 As I am writing for American readers；
I wish to say； that all they are told of the vices of OLD countries； on the
other side of the Atlantic； is strictly true； while all that is said； directly； or
by implication； of the vices and faults of this happy young country； is just
so much calumny。 The many excellent friends I have made； since my
arrival in this hemisphere； has bound my heart to them to all eternity；
and I will now proceed with my philosophical and profound
disquisitions on what I have seen； with a perfect confidence that I shall
receive credit； and an independence of opinion that is much too dear to
me to consent to place it in question。 But to return to facts。
｛elegants = dandies｝
I was restored to Eudosia； with a cold； reserved look； by a lady into
whose hands I had passed； that struck me as singular； as shown to the
owner of such an article。 It was not long； however； before I discovered；
to use a homely phrase； that something had happened； and I was not
altogether without curiosity to know what that something was。 It was
apparent enough； that Eudosia was the subject of general observation；
and of general conversation； though； so long as she held me in her hand；
it exceeded all my acuteness of hearing to learn what was said。 The
poor girl fancied her pocket…handkerchief was the common theme； and
in this she was not far from right； though it was in a way she little
suspected。 At length Clara Caverly drew near； and borrowed me of her
friend； under a pretext of showing me to her mother； who was in the
room； though； in fact； it was merely to get me out of sight； for Clara was
much too well…bred to render any part of another's dress the subject of
her discussions in general society。 As if impatient to get me out of sight；
I was thrown on a sofa； among a little pile of consoeurs； （if there is such
a word；） for a gathering had been made； while our pretty hostesses
were dancing； in order to compare our beauty。 There we lay quite an
hour； a congress of pocket…handkerchiefs； making our comments on the
company； and gossiping in our own fashion。 It was only the next day
that I discovered the reason we were thus neglected； for； to own the
truth； something had occurred which suddenly brought 〃three…figure；〃
and even 〃two…figure〃 people of our class into temporary disrepute。 I
shall explain that reason at the proper moment。
｛consoeurs = fellow sisters｝
The conversation among the handkerchiefs on the sofa； ran principally
on the subject of our comparative market value。 I soon discovered that
there was a good deal of envy against me； on account of my 〃three
figures；〃 although； I confess； I thought I cut a 〃poor figure；〃 lying as I
did； neglected in a corner； on the very first evening of my appearance in
the fashionable world。 But some of the opinions uttered on this
occasionalways in the mesmeritic manner； be it rememberedwill be
seen in the following dialogue。
〃Well！〃 exclaimed 25； 〃this is the first ball I have been at that I was not
thought good enough to have a place in the quadrille。 You see all the
canaille are in the hands of their owners； while we； the elite of pocket…
handkerchiefs； are left here in a corner； like so many cloaks。〃
｛canaille = riff…raff｝
〃There must be a reason for this； certainly；〃 answered 45； 〃though
YOU have been flourished about these two winters； in a way that ought
to satisfy one of YOUR pretensions。〃
An animated reply was about to set us all in commotion； when 80；
who； next to myself； had the highest claims of any in the party； changed
the current of feeling； by remarking
〃It is no secret that we are out of favor for a night or two； in
consequence of three figures having been paid for one of us； this very
day； by a bossess； whose father stopped payment within three hours
after he signed the cheque that was to pay the importer。 I overheard the
whole story； half an hour since； and thus； you see； every one is afraid to
be seen with an aristocratic handkerchief； just at this moment。 But
bless you！ in a day or two all will be forgotten； and we shall come more
into favor than ever。 All is always forgotten in New York in a week。〃
Such was； indeed； the truth。 One General Jackson had 〃removed the
deposits；〃 as I afterwards learned； though I never could understand
exactly what that meant； but； it suddenly made money scarce； more
especially with those who had none； and every body that was
〃extended〃 began to quake in their shoes。 Mr。 Halfacre happened to be
in this awkward predicament； and he broke down in the effort to sustain
himself。 His energy had over…reached itself； like the tumbler who breaks
his neck in throwing seventeen hundred somersets backwards。
CHAPTER XII。
Every one is more apt to hear an unpleasant rumor than those whom it
immediately affects。 Thus Eudosia and her mother were the only
persons at Mrs。 Trotter's ball who were ignorant of what had
happened； one whispering the news to another； though no one could
presume to communicate the fact to the parties most interested。 In a
commercial town； like New York； the failure of a reputed millionaire；
could not long remain a secret； and every body stared at the wife and
daughter； and me； first； as if they had never seen the wives and
daughters of bankrupts before； and second； as if they had never seen
them surrounded by the evidences of their extravagance。
But the crisis was at hand； and the truth could not long be concealed。
Eudosia was permitted to cloak and get into the carriage unaided by
any beau； a thing that had not happened to her since speculation had
brought her father into notice。 The circumstance； more than any other；
attracted her attention； and the carriage no sooner started than the poor
girl gave vent to her feelings。
〃What CAN be the matter； Ma？〃 Eudosia said； 〃that every person in
Mrs。 Trotter's rooms should stare so at me； this evening？ I am sure my
dress is as well made and proper as that of any other young lady in the
rooms； and as for the handkerchiefS； I could s