He took me to a jeweler's, and without consulting me bought an immense mosaic brooch, with a ruined castle on it, and a pretty ring with a gold stone.
"Is there anything more ?" he asked, "you would like ?" "Yes, I want a pink calico dress." "Why ?" "Because the girls at Miss Black's wear pink calico." "Why not get a pink silk ?" "I must have a pink French calico, with a three-cornered white cloud on it; it is the fashion." "The fashion!" he echoed with contempt.

But the dress was bought, and we went back to Barmouth.
When I appeared in school with my new brooch and ring the girls crowded round me.
"What does that pin represent, whose estate ?" inquired one, with envy in her voice.
"Don't the ring make the blood rush into your hand ?" asked another; "it looks so." "Does it ?" I answered; "I'll hold up my hand in the air, as you do, to make it white." "What is your father's business ?" asked Elmira Sawyer, "is he a tailor ?" Her insolence made my head swim; but I did not reply.

When recess was over a few minutes afterward, I cried under the lid of my desk.

These girls overpowered me, for I could not conciliate them, and had no idea of revenge, believing that their ridicule was deserved.

But I thought I should like to prove myself respectable.