This reply only had the effect of causing Kitty to urge her request more strenuously.  But she would give no reason for her singular conduct.  After the girl had gone away, Mrs. Claudine laid aside her work—­for she was not in a state of mind to do any thing but think—–­and sat for at least an hour, musing upon the strange incident which had occurred.  All at once, it flashed upon her mind that there must be some plot in progress to discredit or rival her new bonnet, which Kitty had learned at Mrs. Ballman’s.  The more she thought of this, the more fully did she become satisfied that it must be so.  She was aware that Mrs. Ballman had been chagrined at her leading off in new fashions once or twice before; and the fact, evident now, that she knew of her reception of the bonnet, and Kitty’s anxiety that she should not wear it on Sunday, led her to the conviction that there was some plot against her.  At first, she determined to appear in her new bonnet, disregardful of Kitty’s warning.  But subsequent reflection brought her to a different conclusion.

The moment Mrs. Claudine settled it in her mind that she would not appear in the new bonnet, she began dressing herself, hurriedly, to go out.  It was as late as five o’clock in the afternoon when she called at the store of the milliner who had been commissioned by Mrs. Ballman to get the rival bonnet.

“Have you the last fashions from abroad?” enquired Mrs. Claudine.

“We have,” replied the milliner.

“Will you let me see them?”

“Certainly, ma’am.”

And the patterns were shown.  After examining them carefully, for some time, Mrs. Claudine selected a style of bonnet that pleased her fancy, and said—­

“You must get me up this bonnet so that I can wear it to-morrow.”

“Impossible, madam!” replied the milliner.  “This is Saturday evening.”

“I know it is; but for money you can get one of your girls to work all night.  I don’t care what you charge; but I must have the bonnet.”

The milliner still hesitated, and seemed to be confused and uneasy.  She asked Mrs. Claudine to sit down and wait for a little while, and then retired to think upon what she had better do.  The fact was, Mrs. Claudine had pitched upon the very bonnet Mrs. Ballman had ordered, and her earnestness about having it made in time to wear on the next day, put it almost beyond her power to say no.  If she were to tell her that Mrs. Ballman had ordered the same bonnet, it would, she knew, settle the matter.  But, it occurred to her, that if both the ladies were to appear at church in the same style of bonnet, the fashion would be sure to take, and she, in consequence, get a large run of business.  This thought sent the blood bounding through the milliner’s veins, and decided her to keep her own counsel, and take Mrs. Claudine’s order.

“She’s as much right to the bonnet as Mrs. Ballman,” settled all ethical questions that intruded themselves upon the milliner.