It came to her that Barney, in his moment of doubt, had spoken more
soundly than he had imagined when he had said that it was easier to
fool a man about a woman than it was to fool a woman. How tragically
true that was! While trying to learn to be a lady by working in smart
shops, she had learned that the occasional man who had ventured in
after woman's gear was hopelessly ignorant and bought whatever was
skillfully thrust upon him, but that it was impossible to slip an
inferior or unsuitable or out-dated article over on the woman who
really knew.
And Miss Sherwood was the kind of woman who really knew! Who knew
everything. Could she possibly, possibly pass herself off on Miss
Sherwood as the genuine article? . . .
Could Larry have foreseen the very real misery--for any doubt of her
own qualities, any fear of her ability to carry herself well in any
situation, are among the most acute of a proud woman's miseries--which
for some twenty-four hours was brought upon Maggie by the well-meant
intrigue of which he was pulling the hidden strings, he might, because
of his love for Maggie, have discarded his design even while he was
creating it, and have sought a measure pregnant with less distress.
But perhaps it was just as well that Larry did not know.
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