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Pearl of Great Price  by Lindelea 2 Review(s)
Lyta PadfootReviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/15/2003
The thoughts on dresses made me laugh - I just did laundry and saw for myself how many clothes I actually own. Funny, it never seems like that many when I need an outfit for the day... Pearl's attitude surprised me a bit until my brain supplied information on how precious cloth was in the past and that a girl of Pearl's background would not have more than a handful of homemade clothes. You excell at picking up on those details; another excellent chapter.

Author Reply: Yes, when you think of all the work it took to produce cloth in those days, not to mention hand-sewing every garment, it would be no wonder that a farm girl would feel rich to have a "company and visiting dress" in addition to her everyday dress. I had to think for a bit before I figured out how they'd handle washday. What would they change into? Then I remembered that they probably would have some sort of nearly-worn-out clothes for especially dirty work, or to wear when the other outfit was being washed. In pioneer days, ladies wore the same dress daily, sponging away dirt or odor if need be. To freshen up, they'd change to a fresh apron, not a fresh outfit. How spoilt the Smials Tooks are, and they don't even know it!

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/15/2003
I think you have an error in the ninth paragraph of this chapter - you have done my favorite trick and confused Elegantine with Esmeralda. Or perhaps Pearl's mum has popped in to make sure her daughter is suitably dressed?

I am glad Aunt Esme is looking out for Pearl - and I am surprised she did not think to add a small bit of lace to her own dress to reinforce the new fashion. I am sure Pearl will be able to find her own way of dealing with her high-born relations, eventually, but the extra protection is nice for now when she is not settled yet. Speaking of those relations, I don't think I like Ferumbras' close regard of Pearl and her costume. It might have helped her out here, and its not likely Pearl can keep a low profile while waiting on his mother, but.... it feels uncomfortable. Yet he did and said absolutely nothing unfitting. I tried imagining Pippin-as-Thain in the same scene with a new girl, and he might not have done much different - a few gentle quips to put her at ease, enough to let her know she is seen with favor, but then I am sure someone else would have walked her to her room. Perhaps it is the awkward relationship between Ferumbras and his mother that makes any interaction uncomfortable. "Of course I don’t need you" is not something I would say to any of my children, I hope.

Author Reply: Error fixed, thank you for pointing it out. I often confuse Thain Paladin and Thain Peregrin, as well.

Ah, the good aunt ought to have thought of adding lace to her own dress. Perhaps she will in the revision. My editor is on vacation until after the holidays, so we shall see.

You have good instincts to have picked up on a future plot point that was (I hope) very subtly introduced.

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