Matriarch of the Hockleys

"I won't tell you anymore," Andrea pouted and got up and walked towards the manor. Karl should be back.

Seeing that Andrea was really walking back, Doris knew that she was really a little awkward, so she hurriedly chased after her.

Soon, the freshness was swept away by overwhelming sleepiness.They had an early dinner and went to bed.

The next day, Eden and Carl went out to visit the local squires, while Andrea and Doris, who stayed in the manor, sat on the sofa bored.

"Miss, some wives are here with their children." Lisa came from outside the door.

Hearing this, the two looked at each other, "Let them come in first." They got up and pulled their skirts to make them look evener.

"Oh, this is really beautiful." A lady in an orange dress looked at the decoration in the living room with admiring eyes.

"Mrs. Glover, don't show such a petty expression. You have lowered Givernia's level." Mrs. Gregg, who met Andrea and the others yesterday, was among them, and she sarcastically said, My heart is full of envy and jealousy.

Mr. Greg is a well-known miser in Givernia. Although they live in the manor, the decoration inside is really simple.

They were followed by two ladies, and a gentleman.

"Oh, we heard that there are guests coming to Givernia, so we came here to pay a special visit. Didn't bother you?" Mrs. Greg said enthusiastically.

"Of course not, we just happen to be free." Doris smiled.

"Let me introduce, this is my son Edward Greg, he is a well-known young talent in Givernia." Mrs. Greg pulled her son behind her and said to them proudly.

"Really? But unfortunately, my brother and the others have gone out. No one at home can entertain you, why don't you let someone take you to the garden!" Andrea took a small step back by Doris. said in refusal.

"Excuse me." Little Mr. Greg looked at Andrea's delicate face, and suddenly lowered his head.God!She was beautiful, and he would wager there was no other lady in Givernia more charming than her.

After Mr. Greg Jr. left, the atmosphere in the living room became more active.

"You can call me Mrs. Glover, this is my daughter Jane." The dark blue dress made the lady very gentle.

"I am Mrs. Foster, and this is my eldest daughter, Betty. She is a famous beauty here." Mrs. Foster couldn't wait to introduce her daughter, "It's a pity that my little Mary is only seven years old, otherwise I would definitely The one who brought her here, she is also a beauty."

Mrs. Foster held her veil over her mouth and boasted without modesty.She heard the news that some young bachelors brought their daughter out on purpose, but she didn't expect such a coincidence.You must know that Betty is already eighteen. Although her dowry is $8000, bachelors with good conditions are rare.

"You may call me 'Miss William,' and this is 'Miss Bruce.' Her brother, Mr. Bruce, is the master here, and their friend, Mr. Hockley, has come with us." Doris said with a smile, " Sit over there first!" "Okay,"

"Isn't Miss Bruce coming to Givernia for the first time? Although it's only a small town, the scenery here is beautiful, and people often visit us." Betty was wearing a light purple long dress, which looked a bit smaller than Jane's. It looks much more beautiful and novel, but standing next to them is still much inferior.

"That's really great. I've always wanted to appreciate the natural scenery." Andrea said happily, turning her head to look at Doris.

"Where do you come from? Is it a nearby big city?" Betty said enviously. The biggest regret in her life was not being able to live in those big cities. I heard that there are many jewelry stores in big cities!

Looking at the beaded headband on Doris' head, and then at the ribbon on her wrist, Betty felt a little uncomfortable.

Why can she have a hairband that looks expensive, but she and her mother have been grinding for a long time to buy such an ordinary ribbon.This is not fair, obviously I am much more beautiful than this Miss William, why can't I live a rich life.

In fact, the condition of Foster's family is pretty good in the countryside, at least not many ladies in their area own the common ribbon in her eyes.

Sensing her scorching gaze, Doris felt a little unhappy. "What's the matter, Miss Betty?"

"Uh, it's nothing." Everyone at the table looked at her, and those probing eyes turned Betty's jealousy towards Doris into loathing.

"Miss William, your headband is really pretty. I don't know where you bought it, and how much did it cost?" Betty couldn't help asking, and Mrs. Foster looked at her daughter dissatisfied.Should I be shopping again?

"This?" Doris touched the hair tie on her head, "I brought it from London, about 20 pounds!?" She couldn't remember clearly.

"Twenty pounds!" All the wives exclaimed, this is equivalent to one hundred dollars, boy, is this still a hair tie?It's all in dollars!

Thinking that her ribbon cost only thirty cents, Betty's jealousy made her expression unnatural.

ha!She didn't miss it. This Miss William really came from a wealthy family.That's what a headband costs, and a pound of good beef doesn't cost a dollar.Be good, Mrs. Greg thought secretly.

When Miss William gets married, she will tell Edward to take over her dowry quickly, and she can't be allowed to spend it like this again.Before anything happened, Mrs. Greg began to think about how much Doris would have as a dowry, and how much she could get from it.

It has to be said that she and the miser Mr. Gregg really make a good match.

"Are you going to have a dance?" Jane has been wishing for a dance every day since she went to a dance. It's wonderful.

As long as she is attending a ball, she can wear a new dress, listen to the compliments of the men, and dance on the dance floor non-stop.It would be nice to not have to do housework or be a maid.

"Yeah, why not hold a dance, that will let you get to know the nearby residents faster." Mrs. Greg wanted her son to get to know Doris as soon as possible, "The dances here are different from those in London."

"Well, anyway, it would be a pity not to have a dance." Foster thought of the two rich bachelors, and his heart was burning.

"Is that so? Let's discuss it later. If we really want to do it, we will definitely invite you." Andrea was a little moved, but decided to ask everyone for their opinions.

"Then hurry up, everyone wants to visit you now. How busy it is, a dance can solve it, isn't it simple?" Mrs. Foster persisted in her persuasion.

"Yes! Miss Bruce has to make a decision as soon as possible." Mrs. Glover, who had a relatively low sense of presence, also said.

"Let's talk about it later, let's have some desserts." Lisa sent some desserts with a wink.

"This is delicious,"

"Very nice!"

"As long as you like it,"

"Is this a cook from London?"

"No, it's local."

........................

"Who are you talking about? Hockley?" Mrs. Foster was taken aback by her husband's startled attitude.

"Oh, you almost scared me out!" Mrs. Foster looked at her husband dissatisfied.

"It's Hockley, what's the matter? There's nothing to be surprised about!" Mrs. Foster put down the apron she was mending, and said angrily.

"They still come from New York?" Mr. Foster asked with a flushed face.

"How do I know? Maybe!" Mrs. Foster continued to be busy with her work in disapproval.

"That Hockley! 'The Iron Man' from Philadelphia," cried Mr. Foster excitedly.

"Hiss! What did you say!?" Mrs. Foster raised her voice, ignoring the finger that was pricked by the needle.

"The 'Iron King' is named Hockley. They shouldn't have any connection?" Thinking of such a famous gentleman staying here for a while, Mr. Foster couldn't help but want to sing a song.

"It's unlikely, is it?" Calm down, Mrs. Foster couldn't believe that the wealthy steel tycoon had relatives who would be here on vacation, yes, it was a vacation.

"How is it impossible? What's the matter? Givernia has a beautiful environment, why is it impossible?" Mr. Foster was a little unhappy, "I'll go out for a while," Mr. Foster walked outside with a blushing face, head He was still wearing the hat he cherished so much.

"Betty, Betty, come down," Mrs. Foster's shrill voice pierced the eardrums.

"Here, what are you doing!?" Betty walked out of the room and shouted impatiently downstairs.

She had been thinking of Miss William's twenty-pound headband, and she wished she had one.But Betty knew it was impossible, after all, their family's annual income was less than two thousand dollars.

"What are you doing?" She hesitated.

"Hockley, that Mr. Hockley," Mrs. Foster couldn't hide her excitement, my God!That is a rich man who may not be seen in several lifetimes!

"What's the matter!" Betty said unhappily when she didn't get an answer.

"Mr. Hockley may be a relative of the 'Steel King'. He must be richer than that Mr. Hockley! Betty, you have to hold on to him!" Mrs. Foster seemed to have seen that Mr. Hockley was driving a car. The golden carriage came to pick up Betty.

"What! Is this real? God, I'm not ready," Betty screamed, covering her face.

"I'm going to pick out the most beautiful dress, and I'm going to be the most beautiful lady at the ball!" Betty grabbed Mrs. Foster's hand.

The author has something to say: After searching for a long time, I couldn't find the exact number.There is a saying that before World War I, one pound was equal to five dollars, so let’s calculate it like this⊙▽⊙

Don't spray me ≥﹏≤

I hope you can always support me(^з^)