widow.
The
Marquis
had
not
a
chance
to
say
a
word
to
me
;
he
tried
often
,
but
I
avoided
him
,
he
looked
so
out
of
temper
.
I
am
sure
it
would
have
been
something
disagreeable
.
He
and
the
Vicomte
nearly
came
to
blows
going
out
of
the
door
,
just
over
a
silly
thing
like
the
Vicomte
's
sword
knocking
against
the
Marquis
's
boot
.
I
hope
they
wo
n't
really
fight
.
When
they
had
all
gone
,
and
we
were
going
up
to
bed
,
I
thought
Jean
looked
as
if
his
fit
was
coming
on
again
,
so
I
bolted
into
my
room
;
and
on
the
whole
I
am
rather
glad
to
be
coming
back
to
England
on
Thursday
.
To-day
we
go
over
to
Tournelle
,
a
visit
of
ceremony
for
me
to
say
good-bye
,
and
they
are
all
dear
people
there
,
and
I
shall
always
hope
to
see
them
again
.
—
Now
good-bye
,
dear
Mamma
,
with
love
from
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
P.S.
—
I
wish
his
hair
was
n't
cut
en
brosse
.
But
of
course
one
could
n't
marry
a
Frenchman
anyway
.
Château
de
Croixmare
,
Wednesday
,
September
7th
.
Hippolyte
's
Testimonial
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
It
was
really
quite
sad
saying
good-bye
to
all
the
people
at
Tournelle
.
The
Baronne
almost
wept
over
me
,
and
said
that
they
would
be
dreadfully
dull
without
me
.
They
all
kissed
me
on
both
cheeks
,
and
even
Hippolyte
as
he
put
us
into
the
carriage
after
I
tipped
him
,
remarked
,
"
Mieux
vaut
épouser
un
français
et
rester
toujours
chez
nous
,
vous
êtes
trop
belle
demoiselle
pour
le
brouillard
d'Angleterre
!
"
I
wonder
after
all
if
the
Marquis
will
ever
marry
Victorine
,
as
it
seems
,
when
he
got
back
last
night
,
he
was
in
such
a
temper
that
he
made
a
scene
with
the
Baronne
and
his
mother
.
He
said
that
Victorine
made
him
look
ridiculous
,
that
she
was
unappetising
,
without
wit
,
and
ugly
enough
to
have
tranquillised
St.
Anthony
at
his
worst
moment
of
temptation
—
whatever
that
means
.
(
I
overheard
the
Baronne
tell
all
this
to
Héloise
while
the
old
Baron
was
making
me
compliments
in
his
fearful
English
.
)
The
Marquis
stamped
his
foot
,
and
finally
,
bursting
into
tears
,
announced
that
he
would
go
to
Paris
,
back
to
Adèle
—
whoever
she
is
—
and
find
consolation
!
So
off
he
started
this
morning
the
first
thing
.
What
a
man
,
Mamma
!
crying
like
a
child
!
His
mother
and
the
Baronne
are
very
anxious
about
him
,
as
if
he
really
decides
to
"
jeter
le
manche
après
la
cognée
,
"
who
is
to
pay
his
debts
!
The
Baronne
also
said
,
that
if
"
Elisabet
"
(
that
's
me
)
had
only
been
married
,
it
would
have
been
all
a
simple
matter
;
because
then
there
would
be
no
cause
for
him
to
despair
,
and
he
would
not
have
occupied
himself
about
an
ordinary
subject
,
like
who
they
married
him
to
in
the
meantime
.
But
,
as
it
is
,
the
contrast
between
us
—
Victorine
and
me
—
whom
he
cannot
obtain
—
is
too
great
,
and
the
sooner
I
am
out
of
his
sight
the
better
!
It
does
sound
all
Greek
,
does
n't
it
to
you
,
Mamma
?
I
repeat
it
just
as
the
Baronne
said
it
.
Etiquette
for
the
Fiancés
We
went
into
the
garden
presently
,
and
the
Marquise
and
the
Comte
and
I
walked
together
;
she
had
not
got
over
the
affair
at
dinner
,
and
did
nothing
but
laugh
and
joke
about
it
.
She
said
that
Victorine
at
all
events
will
give
the
Marquis
no
anxieties
in
the
future
,
but
she
is
sure
he
will
have
to
"
se
griser
"
to
get
through
the
wedding
.
Fortunately
Victorine
was
not
with
us
,
as
Godmamma
was
too
tired
to
accompany
her
;
it
would
not
have
been
proper
for
her
to
come
with
only
her
brother
and
sister-in-law
,
as
her
fiancé
,
being
supposed
to
be
at
Tournelle
,
she
might
have
had
private
conversation
with
him
not
under
Godmamma
's
eye
!
Oh
!
must
n't
it
be
awful
to
be
French
!
Héloise
says
it
is
n't
so
bad
as
this
in
the
smart
set
in
Paris
;
they
speak
to
one
another
there
quite
a
lot
before
getting
married
,
and
do
almost
English
things
,
but
Godmamma
is
of
the
old
school
.
Before
we
left
,
the
Marquis
turned
up
,
he
looked
thoroughly
worn
out
and
as
piano
as
a
beaten
dog
.
He
was
awfully
polite
to
Jean
and
Héloise
,
and
hardly
looked
at
me
,
but
as
I
did
not
want
to
leave
with
him
still
feeling
cross
with
me
,
I
got
the
chance
at
last
to
tell
him
I
hoped
he
would
be
happy
,
and
to
congratulate
him
.
He
bowed
deeply
and
thanked
me
,
and
then
under
his
breath
,
as
he
stooped
to
pick
up
a
flower
I
had
dropped
,
he
said
,
"
Vous
avez
brisé
mon
coeur
,
et
cela
m'est
égal
ce
qui
arrive
,
"
—
but
I
do
n't
believe
it
,
Mamma
,
he
has
not
got
a
heart
to
break
,
he
is
only
a
silly
doll
and
worthy
of
Victorine
.
I
saw
the
Baronne
talking
to
him
seriously
while
we
were
having
"
five
o'clock
;
"
and
just
as
we
were
starting
,
she
came
up
and
said
low
to
Héloise
,
who
was
beside
me
,
"
J'espère
que
tout
va
bien
,
Adèle
l'a
remplacé
,
et
ne
veut
plus
de
lui
!
Oh
!
la
bonne
fille
!
"
So
whoever
"
Adèle
"
is
,
I
suppose
she
has
done
Victorine
a
good
turn
.
I
asked
Héloise
on
our
way
home
if
"
Adèle
"
was
a
relation
of
the
Marquis
's
,
and
she
went
into
fits
of
laughter
and
said
,
"
Oui
,
une
très
proche
,
"
but
I
ca
n't
see
anything
to
laugh
at
,
can
you
,
Mamma
?
A
Country
Dinner
Party
In
the
evening
there
was
a
ghastly
dinner
party
at
Croixmare
.
Three
sets
of
provincial
families
.
They
are
really
awful
these
entertainments
,
and
so
different
to
English
ones
!
Nobody
bothers
about
even
numbers
.
You
feel
obliged
to
ask
the
X
's
,
the
Y
's
,
and
the
Z
's
from
duty
,
and
so
you
do
.
It
does
n't
in
the
least
matter
if
they
are
mostly
females
;
you
have
to
ask
the
family
,
because
if
the
daughters
are
grown
up
they
ca
n't
be
left
at
home
alone
—
they
would
be
getting
into
mischief
.
This
is
the
kind
of
assortment
that
arrives
:
Papa
X
,
Mamma
X
,
and
two
girl
X'es
;
Papa
Y
,
Mamma
Y
,
and
Master
and
Miss
Y
;
Papa
Z
,
Mamma
Z
,
Aunt
Z
,
and
Mdlle
.
Z
—
such
a
party
!
Godmamma
just
revels
in
these
frumps
;
they
make
Héloise
furious
,
and
the
airs
of
Victorine
,
her
coyness
and
giggling
,
nearly
drove
me
wild
.
I
sat
next
to
Monsieur
Y
,
and
although
he
is
a
Baron
of
very
old
family
he
ate
like
a
pig
.
The
food
was
extraordinarily
good
,
but
the
proof
of
good
service
here
is
to
get
the
whole
dinner
—
of
I
do
n't
know
how
many
courses
—
over
under
the
hour
.
So
one
has
no
sooner
swallowed
a
mouthful
,
when
one
's
plate
is
snatched
away
,
and
one
begins
to
devour
something
else
.
But
with
this
awful
man
gobbling
at
my
side
,
and
those
foolish
girls
giggling
beyond
,
even
the
forty
minutes
seemed
ages
.
Afterwards
in
the
salon
the
"
jeunes
filles
"
were
sent
to
talk
at
the
other
side
of
the
room
,
supervised
by
"
the
Tug
,
"
who
did
not
dine
,
but
was
in
waiting
.
If
you
had
heard
their
conversation
,
Mamma
!
It
was
worse
than
the
day
the
two
came
to
breakfast
.
Just
one
endless
string
of
questions
to
Victorine
about
the
Marquis
,
with
giggles
over
possibilities
of
their
own
fiançailles
!
It
is
so
extraordinary
that
they
can
ever
turn
into
witty
,
fascinating
women
like
Héloise
and
the
Marquise
.
Of
course
,
these
are
just
provincial
nobodies
,
whom
Héloise
would
not
dream
of
knowing
in
Paris
;
perhaps
the
girls
there
are
better
.
A
Cure
for
a
Fit
Victorine
told
them
the
Marquis
was
"
Beau
comme
l'Archange
Michel
,
"
and
had
for
her
"
une
brûlante
dévotion
!
"
What
will
she
say
if
after
all
he
refuses
to
come
to
the
scratch
!
Jean
is
to
accompany
Agnès
and
me
up
to
Paris
to-morrow
to
see
us
safely
off
to
Dieppe
.
I
hope
he
wo
n't
have
another
fit
in
the
train
,
I
shall
tell
Agnès
to
take
plenty
of
salts
and
brandy
in
her
bag
,
and
a
bottle
of
soda
water
,
because
I
have
always
heard
that
a
sudden
shock
is
best
for
people
in
fits
,
and
one
could
pop
the
soda
water
over
him
if
the
worst
came
to
the
worst
.
—
Now
,
good-night
,
dear
Mamma
,
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
P.S.
—
An
awful
wind
is
blowing
.
I
hope
I
sha
n't
be
drowned
crossing
the
Channel
.
—
E
.
Château
de
Croixmare
,
Thursday
night
.
The
Emotion
of
the
Marquis
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
I
hope
you
got
the
telegram
all
right
to-day
saying
I
would
not
leave
.
The
storm
became
really
so
fearful
they
would
not
hear
of
my
starting
,
and
as
it
has
turned
out
I
am
very
glad
,
for
to-night
we
dined
at
Tournelle
to
celebrate
the
Baronne
's
birthday
,
and
we
had
such
an
amusing
time
.
All
the
usual
lot
were
there
,
as
well
as
those
two
officers
who
came
to
the
Foire
with
us
,
and
about
three
or
four
more
people
from
Paris
,
so
we
were
quite
a
large
party
.
Everybody
gave
the
Baronne
a
present
,
and
such
baskets
of
flowers
as
she
had
in
the
salon
!
"
Assez
pour
tourner
la
tête
,
"
as
Hippolyte
said
.
The
Baronne
was
dressed
in
pale
mauve
and
looked
lovely
,
only
such
a
funny
thing
happened
at
dinner
.
The
Vicomte
,
who
sat
next
to
her
,
made
her
laugh
dreadfully
,
just
as
she
was
eating
her
soup
,
and
she
choked
,
and
suddenly
one
cheek
quite
fell
in
,
while
the
other
stuck
out
as
if
a
potato
was
in
it
.
One
could
not
think
what
had
happened
;
but
it
appears
that
she
wears
"
plumpers
,
"
of
a
kind
of
red
guttapercha
,
to
keep
her
face
nice
and
round
,
and
in
choking
the
right
cheek
's
one
got
jerked
across
into
the
left
cheek
,
and
that
is
how
she
got
the
toothachy
look
.
Must
n't
it
be
a
bother
,
Mamma
,
to
have
to
do
all
that
?
but
the
Baronne
is
such
a
dear
that
one
did
not
even
laugh
.
The
Marquis
had
to
sit
by
Victorine
,
and
I
saw
him
looking
at
the
pink
rosebuds
in
her
hair
with
a
cautious
eye
;
and
he
sat
up
as
straight
as
anything
in
case
she
should
get
caught
in
him
again
.
But
it
is
all
right
,
he
means
to
go
through
with
it
—
the
Baronne
told
Héloise
directly
we
got
there
.
So
I
thought
,
as
it
was
finally
settled
,
there
would
be
no
harm
in
talking
to
him
a
little
.
He
looked
at
me
at
dinner
,
I
smiled
,
and
it
was
so
quaint
,
Mamma
,
his
whole
face
seemed
to
flush
until
his
forehead
was
even
pink
,
with
the
veins
showing
at
the
side
.
He
lifted
his
champagne
glass
and
kissed
the
edge
of
it
,
and
bowed
to
me
,
and
no
one
saw
but
the
Comte
,
and
he
went
into
a
chuckle
of
laughter
,
as
he
whispered
to
me
that
if
Victorine
had
seen
she
would
certainly
tear
my
eyes
out
on
the
way
home
.
Elizabeth
Sandwiched
Afterwards
,
in
the
salon
,
the
Vicomte
managed
to
stand
behind
me
while
I
was
talking
to
the
old
Baron
,
and
he
said
in
a
low
voice
:
Why
had
I
come
back
?
He
was
at
peace
waiting
till
his
day
came
,
and
here
I
had
upset
everything
,
and
he
should
have
to
go
through
endless
more
restless
nights
!
I
said
that
I
was
sorry
the
storm
had
prevented
my
starting
,
especially
as
I
was
unwelcome
.
So
he
threw
prudence
to
the
winds
,
and
said
out
loud
before
the
Baron
that
I
knew
it
was
not
that
,
and
he
looked
so
devoted
and
distressed
that
the
dear
old
Baron
patted
him
on
the
back
,
and
turning
away
said
,
"
Mon
brave
Gaston
,
moi
aussi
j'étais
jeune
une
fois
.
"
And
he
left
us
alone
by
the
window
,
while
he
stood
a
sort
of
sentry
in
front
.
The
Vicomte
did
whisper
a
lot
of
things
;
he
said
just
for
one
evening
I
might
make
him
happy
and
pretend
I
loved
him
,
and
let
him
call
me
"
chérie
.
"
So
I
said
"
all
right
;
"
I
did
not
think
it
could
matter
,
as
I
am
coming
home
to-morrow
,
Mamma
,
and
shall
probably
never
see
him
again
,
and
you
said
one
ought
always
to
be
kind-hearted
and
do
little
things
for
people
.
When
I
said
"
all
right
,
"
his
forehead
got
pink
,
and
the
veins
showed
just
like
the
Marquis
's
had
done
at
dinner
,
and
he
said
,
"
Chérie
—
ma
chérie
,
ma
bien-aimée
"
in
such
a
voice
!
It
made
me
feel
quite
as
if
I
wanted
to
listen
to
some
more
,
only
,
unfortunately
at
that
moment
,
Godmamma
came
up
;
she
brushed
the
Baron
aside
,
and
said
I
should
certainly
catch
cold
by
the
window
,
and
must
come
with
her
,
while
she
annihilated
the
Vicomte
with
a
look
.
There
I
was
,
taken
off
to
a
sofa
at
the
other
side
of
the
room
,
and
stuffed
down
between
Godmamma
and
the
Marquis
's
mother
.
You
can
think
I
was
cross
.
However
,
I
paid
her
out
,
for
I
just
looked
at
the
Marquis
,
who
was
seated
by
his
Victorine
almost
silent
and
like
a
dummy
(
they
are
allowed
to
talk
together
now
,
as
long
as
they
are
not
alone
in
the
room
)
.
It
made
him
fidget
so
,
he
could
not
attend
to
what
she
was
saying
.
And
when
finally
he
got
up
and
came
over
to
us
and
said
,
had
I
seen
the
new
"
Nattier
"
the
Comte
had
just
bought
,
which
was
in
the
other
salon
,
and
would
I
come
and
look
at
it
?
—
I
think
Godmamma
wished
she
had
left
me
safe
with
the
Vicomte
.
She
could
not
say
anything
,
as
half
the
party
had
already
gone
to
look
at
the
picture
,
so
I
got
up
at
once
and
went
with
him
.
His
mother
is
years
older
than
the
Baronne
,
and
not
a
bit
gay
like
her
.
I
saw
them
—
her
and
Godmamma
—
nodding
their
heads
anxiously
as
we
left
;
no
doubt
they
were
deploring
the
bad
bringing-up
of
the
English
.
The
Fiancés
Together
The
Marquis
said
it
was
awful
what
he
was
going
through
;
and
when
the
dancing
began
presently
would
I
give
him
the
first
valse
?
I
said
Certainly
,
and
by
that
time
we
were
in
the
other
salon
,
and
beside
the
Marquise
.
She
smiled
her
dear
little
smile
,
which
always
seems
to
mock
at
everything
,
and
put
her
tongue
into
her
gap
and
whispered
:
"
Quelle
comédie
!
c'est
bien
petite
espiègle
,
amusez-vous
!
"
And
so
I
did
!
I
ca
n't
tell
you
what
fun
it
was
,
Mamma
.
I
was
in
wild
spirits
,
and
the
Marquis
answered
back
,
and
we
were
as
gay
as
larks
,
until
I
overheard
the
Marquis
's
mother
,
who
had
followed
us
,
say
to
him
,
in
an
acid
voice
,
that
he
seemed
to
have
forgotten
that
it
was
arranged
for
him
to
give
Victorine
the
engagement
ring
that
evening
and
say
a
few
appropriate
words
to
her
,
and
he
must
take
her
to
see
the
flowers
in
the
conservatory
,
and
get
it
over
there
.
So
off
he
had
to
go
,
looking
black
and
peevish
,
and
supervised
by
the
two
mothers
—
who
stood
at
the
risk
of
catching
their
deaths
of
cold
by
the
door
—
he
and
Victorine
went
arm-in-arm
into
the
conservatory
,
and
disappeared
behind
some
pots
of
palms
.
It
appears
Mme
.
de
Vermandoise
and
the
Comte
were
in
there
too
,
and
saw
what
happened
,
and
she
told
Héloise
and
me
afterwards
.
The
fiancés
came
and
stood
quite
close
to
them
,
with
only
a
bank
of
flowers
between
;
and
they
said
the
palms
were
pretty
and
were
growing
very
tall
,
and
the
Marquis
coughed
,
and
Victorine
began
scrabbling
with
her
toes
on
the
marble
floor
in
that
irritating
way
she
has
,
and
they
neither
of
them
spoke
.
At
last
the
Marquis
dashed
at
it
,
and
said
,
as
she
already
knew
,
their
parents
had
arranged
they
should
marry
,
and
he
hoped
he
would
make
her
happy
.
At
that
moment
the
piano
struck
up
very
loud
in
the
salon
,
and
prevented
Victorine
from
quite
catching
what
he
said
;
he
got
very
red
and
repeated
it
again
,
but
he
mumbled
so
she
still
was
not
sure
,
and
had
to
say
"
Pardon
?
"
for
the
second
time
.
That
upset
the
Marquis
to
such
a
point
that
he
said
"
Damn
,
"
which
is
the
only
English
word
he
knows
,
and
when
Victorine
looked
horribly
surprised
,
he
dived
into
his
waistcoat
pocket
and
fished
out
the
ring
.
Then
he
took
her
hand
,
pulled
off
her
glove
backwards
,
and
pushed
it
on
to
the
first
finger
he
came
to
,
which
happened
to
be
the
middle
one
!
He
just
said
he
hoped
she
would
wear
it
for
his
sake
;
and
when
she
exclaimed
,
"
Mais
,
monsieur
!
ce
n'est
pas
sur
ce
doigt
que
vous
devez
mettre
la
bague
!
"
he
hardly
waited
to
apologise
or
put
it
right
before
he
dragged
her
back
to
the
salon
and
deposited
her
with
the
anxious
mothers
!
The
Baronne
's
Diplomacy
Mme
.
de
Vermandoise
said
she
and
the
Comte
nearly
had
a
fit
to
keep
themselves
from
laughing
out
loud
.
Was
n't
it
too
comic
,
Mamma
?
How
I
should
hate
to
be
betrothed
like
that
!
However
,
Victorine
seems
to
think
half
a
loaf
is
better
than
no
bread
,
for
she
kept
her
glove
off
all
the
rest
of
the
evening
,
and
looked
at
her
ring
with
conscious
pride
.
It
is
a
very
nice
one
,
a
ruby
and
a
pearl
heart
connected
by
a
diamond
Marquis
's
coronet
.
They
ought
to
have
added
a
money-bag
representing
the
dot
,
and
then
the
symbol
would
have
been
complete
.
We
had
begun
to
dance
when
they
got
back
,
and
,
as
the
Marquis
had
not
been
there
to
claim
me
,
I
was
valsing
with
Jean
.
The
Baronne
kept
the
Vicomte
close
to
her
side
all
the
rest
of
the
evening
—
she
told
me
,
as
she
kissed
me
in
saying
good-bye
,
that
she
had
done
it
for
peace
sake
,
as
she
knew
he
and
the
Marquis
would
have
had
a
quarrel
otherwise
,
they
were
both
so
madly
in
love
with
me
.
"
Petite
embrouillante
d'heureuses
familles
va
!
"
she
said
—
"
Mais
je
t'aime
bien
quand
même
!
"
—
She
is
a
darling
,
the
Baronne
!
The
Marquis
stood
there
glowering
,
and
never
offered
to
dance
with
Victorine
;
she
must
have
been
cross
!
We
had
another
farewell
all
round
when
the
valse
was
over
—
Godmamma
would
not
stay
for
another
,
and
even
"
Antoine
"
seemed
sorry
to
say
"
Adieu
.
"
"
Dépêchez-vous
de
vous
marier
,
"
he
said
,
"
et
ensuite
revenez
auprès
de
nous
.
J'ai
envie
de
vous
faire
la
cour
,
mais
vous
êtes
beaucoup
trop
dangereuse
pour
le
moment
.
"
"
Ça
,
c'est
vrai
!
"
said
the
Comte
and
Jean
together
,
and
every
one
laughed
.
Now
that
the
betrothal
ring
is
really
on
Victorine
's
finger
,
and
Héloise
knows
she
will
be
got
off
,
she
does
not
mind
a
bit
about
the
Marquis
looking
at
me
.
She
kept
laughing
to
herself
over
it
all
the
way
home
;
she
really
detests
Victorine
.
Godmamma
and
the
bride-elect
hardly
spoke
a
word
,
and
I
am
sure
if
a
perfect
hurricane
blows
to-morrow
,
they
wo
n't
suggest
my
waiting
another
day
,
so
I
shall
be
glad
to
be
off
.
Good-night
,
dear
Mamma
;
you
will
see
me
almost
as
soon
as
you
get
this
,
as
I
shall
only
sleep
the
night
in
London
at
Aunt
Mary
's
.
—
With
love
from
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
RETBY
Retby
,
September
20th
.
Lady
Theodosia
's
Pets
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
You
might
have
prepared
me
for
what
Lady
Theodosia
looks
like
,
because
when
I
arrived
yesterday
and
was
shown
into
her
boudoir
,
and
found
her
lying
on
the
sofa
,
covered
with
dogs
and
cats
,
I
as
nearly
as
possible
laughed
out
loud
,
and
it
would
have
been
so
rude
.
She
had
evidently
been
asleep
,
and
it
looked
like
a
mountain
having
an
earthquake
when
she
got
up
,
and
animals
rolled
off
her
in
all
directions
.
A
poodle
,
two
fox
terriers
,
a
toy
Spitz
,
and
a
cat
and
kitten
,
had
all
been
sleeping
in
the
nooks
her
outline
makes
.
They
all
barked
in
different
keys
,
and
between
saying
,
"
Down
,
Hector
!
"
"
Quiet
,
Fluff
!
"
"
Hush
,
hush
,
Fanny
!
"
"
Did
um
know
it
was
a
stranger
?
"
etc.
,
etc.
,
she
got
in
that
she
was
glad
to
see
me
,
and
hoped
you
were
better
.
When
she
stands
up
she
is
colossal
!
Her
body
dressed
in
the
last
fashion
,
and
then
the
queerest
face
with
no
neck
,
and
lemon-coloured
hair
parted
down
the
middle
,
and
not
matching
a
bit
with
the
chignon
of
thick
plaits
at
the
back
.
It
looks
as
if
it
were
strapped
on
with
a
black
velvet
band
that
comes
across
her
forehead
,
like
in
the
pictures
on
the
nursery
screen
at
home
that
the
Great-aunts
made
when
they
were
children
.
She
seems
as
kind
as
possible
,
and
has
the
fattest
wheezy
voice
.
"
Clever
Darlings
"
Her
room
is
appalling
;
it
is
full
of
Early
Victorian
furniture
,
and
horrid
alabaster
statuette
things
,
under
glass
cases
,
and
then
a
few
modern
armchairs
covered
in
gorgeous
brocade
,
but
it
is
all
clawed
by
the
cats
,
and
soiled
by
the
dogs
'
muddy
feet
,
and
you
are
unable
to
make
up
your
mind
where
it
will
be
safe
to
sit
.
When
tea
came
in
,
which
it
did
immediately
,
you
ca
n't
think
what
it
was
like
!
A
St.
Bernard
and
another
poodle
joined
the
party
,
and
while
we
were
trying
to
get
something
to
eat
and
drink
,
they
all
begged
or
barked
or
pushed
their
noses
under
the
muffin
dish
lid
,
or
took
cakes
from
the
side
table
;
and
Lady
Theodosia
kept
saying
,
"
Clever
darlings
;
see
,
they
know
where
their
favourite
bits
are
.
"
It
is
impossible
to
have
a
connected
conversation
with
her
,
because
between
every
few
words
she
puts
in
ejaculations
about
the
dogs
.
I
was
obliged
to
simply
bolt
my
crumpet
like
a
Frenchman
,
to
keep
it
from
being
snatched
from
me
.
Just
as
we
were
finishing
tea
,
Mr.
Doran
and
three
men
came
in
.
He
is
a
teeny-weeny
man
with
a
big
head
and
rather
weak
eyes
,
and
he
and
she
do
look
odd
together
.
What
could
it
have
been
like
when
they
trotted
down
the
aisle
after
getting
married
!
It
is
a
mercy
Lady
Theodosia
is
only
your
second
cousin
,
and
that
her
shape
has
not
descended
to
our
branch
of
the
family
.
All
the
"
children
"
—
as
she
calls
the
animals
—
barked
again
when
the
men
came
in
.
There
was
only
a
miserable
tea
left
,
and
,
when
Mr.
Doran
ventured
to
say
the
dogs
had
made
things
rather
messy
,
Lady
Theodosia
annihilated
him
.
It
was
as
if
he
had
insulted
her
nearest
and
dearest
!
But
one
of
the
men
got
quietly
to
the
bell
,
and
when
the
footmen
came
they
grasped
the
situation
and
brought
some
clean
things
,
so
tea
finished
better
than
it
had
begun
.
Just
before
they
went
to
dress
Lady
Theodosia
remembered
to
introduce
them
.
The
only
young
one
is
Mr.
Roper
,
the
great
shot
,
and
the
other
two
are
Sir
Augustus
Grant
and
Captain
Fieldin
;
they
are
oldish
.
When
they
had
gone
,
Lady
Theodosia
said
to
me
that
men
were
a
great
nuisance
as
a
rule
,
but
that
she
had
a
pet
friend
,
a
"
dear
docile
creature
,
so
useful
with
the
dogs
,
"
and
he
was
coming
back
by
the
6.30
train
.
You
would
have
laughed
,
if
you
could
have
seen
him
when
he
did
arrive
!
A
fair
humble
thing
,
with
a
squeaky
voice
and
obsequious
manners
.
He
had
been
up
to
town
to
get
the
dogs
new
muzzles
,
as
the
muzzling
order
has
just
been
put
in
force
in
this
county
.
It
appears
Lady
Theodosia
has
him
always
here
,
and
he
attends
to
the
dogs
for
a
home
,
but
I
would
rather
be
a
stable
—
boy
,
would
n't
you
,
Mamma
?
His
name
is
Frederick
Harrington
,
and
Lady
Theodosia
calls
him
"
Frederick
"
when
she
is
pleased
,
and
"
Harrington
"
if
anything
puts
her
out
.
And
as
she
says
it
,
"
Harrington
"
sounds
the
fattest
word
you
ever
heard
.
I
was
glad
to
get
to
my
room
!
Most
of
the
house
that
I
have
yet
seen
,
which
was
not
refurnished
when
she
married
in
1870
,
is
really
fine
,
with
beautiful
old
furniture
and
china
;
only
everything
within
reach
is
scratched
and
spoilt
by
the
"
children
.
"
It
must
make
the
family
portraits
turn
in
their
frames
to
see
Fluff
eating
one
of
their
tapestry
footstools
,
or
the
cats
clawing
the
Venetian
velvet
chairs
.
Feeding
the
Aborigines
There
was
a
dinner
party
in
the
evening
.
As
we
went
upstairs
to
dress
,
Lady
Theodosia
told
me
about
it
.
She
said
she
was
obliged
to
entertain
all
the
Aborigines
twice
a
year
,
and
that
most
people
gave
them
garden
parties
;
but
she
found
that
too
fatiguing
,
so
she
had
two
dinners
in
the
shooting
season
,
and
two
at
Easter
,
to
which
she
asked
every
one
.
She
just
puts
all
their
names
in
a
bag
,
and
counts
out
twelve
couples
for
each
party
,
and
then
she
makes
up
the
number
to
thirty-six
with
odd
creatures
,
daughters
and
old
maids
,
and
sons
and
curates
,
etc.
,
and
she
finds
it
a
capital
plan
.
She
said
,
"
I
give
'
em
plenty
to
eat
and
drink
,
and
they
draw
for
partners
,
and
all
go
home
as
happy
as
possible
feeling
there
has
been
no
favouritism
!
"
She
explained
that
the
lawyers
and
doctors
enjoyed
having
their
food
with
the
earls
and
baronets
much
more
than
just
prancing
about
lawns
.
And
when
I
asked
her
how
the
earls
and
baronets
liked
it
,
she
said
there
were
only
three
or
four
,
and
they
had
to
put
up
with
it
or
stay
at
home
;
she
had
done
it
now
for
thirty
years
,
and
they
were
accustomed
to
it
;
besides
,
she
had
the
best
chef
in
England
,
and
anyway
it
was
a
nice
change
for
people
not
knowing
who
they
were
going
to
be
put
next
to
.
It
took
her
such
a
long
time
to
tell
me
all
this
,
and
to
see
me
to
my
room
,
that
I
was
almost
late
,
and
she
did
not
get
into
the
state
drawing-room
until
all
the
guests
had
arrived
.
You
never
saw
anything
so
funny
as
it
was
,
Mamma
.
Mr.
Doran
was
trying
to
be
polite
to
the
odd
collection
,
evidently
not
quite
knowing
which
was
which
.
Old
Lord
and
Lady
Devnant
were
glaring
at
the
rest
of
the
company
from
the
hearth-rug
,
with
a
look
of
"
You
invade
this
mat
at
your
peril
!
"
Sir
Christopher
Harford
paying
extravagant
compliments
to
the
parson
's
wife
(
I
knew
which
they
were
because
I
heard
them
announced
)
,
and
the
"
Squire
"
and
Mrs.
de
Lacy
—
who
came
over
with
the
Conqueror
—
standing
apart
with
their
skinny
daughters
,
all
holding
their
noses
in
the
air
.
Everybody
seemed
to
be
in
their
best
clothes
,
and
most
of
the
women
had
flowers
and
tulle
or
little
black
feathers
sticking
up
in
their
hair
,
and
bare
red
arms
,
and
skirts
inches
off
the
ground
in
front
;
you
know
the
look
.
But
everything
seemed
to
be
going
beautifully
after
Lady
Theodosia
rolled
in
(
she
does
not
walk
,
like
ordinary
people
)
!
Drawing
for
Partners
Mr.
Doran
did
the
handing
round
of
the
drawing-papers
,
and
they
were
"
Marshall
and
Snelgrove
,
"
and
"
Lewis
and
Allenby
,
"
and
"
Debenham
and
Freebody
,
"
etc.
,
and
if
you
drew
"
Lewis
"
you
went
in
with
whoever
drew
"
Allenby
,
"
and
so
on
;
it
was
a
capital
plan
,
only
for
one
incident
.
I
was
near
Lady
Theodosia
when
Mr.
Harrington
rushed
from
the
other
end
of
the
room
,
and
whispered
to
her
in
an
agitated
voice
that
the
"
Dickens
"
of
Lady
Devnant
's
"
Jones
"
was
Dr.
Pluffield
.
She
was
not
on
speaking
terms
with
him
,
having
quarrelled
with
him
for
sending
her
teething
powders
by
mistake
,
when
it
ought
to
have
been
something
for
her
nerves
.
All
Lady
Theodosia
said
was
—
"
Harrington
,
you
're
a
fool
.
What
are
their
little
differences
to
me
?
I
give
'
em
the
best
dinner
in
England
,
and
they
must
settle
the
rest
themselves
!
"
So
poor
Mr.
Harrington
had
to
go
back
and
smooth
down
Lady
Devnant
as
best
he
could
;
and
presently
we
all
started
for
the
banqueting-hall
.
There
were
several
really
decent
county
people
there
,
of
course
,
but
they
all
looked
much
the
same
as
the
others
,
except
that
they
had
diamonds
on
.
Old
Admiral
Brudnell
,
who
has
a
crimson
face
,
was
taking
in
the
younger
Miss
de
Lacy
,
and
just
in
front
of
him
were
Dr.
Pluffield
and
Lady
Devnant
,
whom
the
Admiral
hates
.
I
heard
him
say
,
getting
purple
like
a
gobbler
,
"
Come
on
,
come
on
,
I
do
n't
mean
to
let
that
old
catamaran
get
in
front
of
me
!
"
And
he
dragged
Miss
de
Lacy
through
the
doorway
,
bumping
the
others
to
get
past
;
and
she
told
me
afterwards
her
funny-bone
had
got
such
a
knock
that
she
could
hardly
hold
her
soup
spoon
!
Marshall
and
Snelgrove
It
was
quainter
even
than
the
frumps
'
dinner
that
Godmamma
gave
.
I
had
a
very
nervous
young
man
with
red
hair
and
glasses
to
take
me
in
;
I
drew
"
Snelgrove
,
"
so
he
was
"
Marshall
.
"
He
evidently
had
not
understood
a
bit
about
the
drawing
,
and
kept
calling
me
"
Miss
Snelgrove
,
"
until
I
was
obliged
to
say
to
him
,
"
But
my
name
is
not
Snelgrove
any
more
than
yours
is
Marshall
.
"
"
But
my
name
is
Marshall
,
"
he
said
,
"
and
I
was
told
to
find
a
lady
of
the
name
of
'
Snelgrove
,
'
and
I
wondered
at
the
strange
coincidence
.
"
He
looked
so
dreadfully
distressed
that
I
had
to
explain
to
him
;
and
he
got
so
nervous
at
his
mistake
that
he
hardly
spoke
for
the
rest
of
dinner
.
The
dishes
were
exquisite
,
and
Lady
Theodosia
enjoyed
them
all
,
in
spite
of
"
Fanny
"
(
that
is
the
Spitz
)
constantly
falling
off
her
lap
,
and
having
to
be
fished
for
by
her
own
footman
,
who
always
stands
behind
her
chair
,
ready
for
these
emergencies
.
I
call
it
very
plucky
of
the
dog
to
go
on
trying
;
for
what
lap
Lady
Theodosia
has
is
so
steep
it
must
be
like
trying
to
sleep
on
the
dome
of
St.
Paul
's
.
Mr.
Roper
sat
at
my
other
side
,
and
after
a
while
he
talked
to
me
;
he
said
he
came
every
year
to
shoot
partridges
,
and
it
was
always
the
same
.
On
the
night
he
arrived
there
was
always
this
dinner
party
,
and
some
years
the
most
absurd
things
had
happened
,
but
Lady
Theodosia
did
not
care
a
button
.
He
thought
there
were
a
good
many
advantages
in
being
a
Duke
's
daughter
;
they
do
n't
dare
to
offend
her
,
he
said
,
although
they
are
ready
to
tear
one
another
's
eyes
out
when
they
are
put
with
the
wrong
people
.
Lady
Theodosia
puffed
a
good
deal
as
dinner
went
on
,
I
could
hear
her
from
where
I
sat
.
She
is
in
slight
mourning
,
so
below
her
diamond
necklace
—
which
is
magnificent
,
but
has
not
been
cleaned
for
years
—
she
had
a
set
of
five
lockets
,
on
a
chain
all
made
of
bog
oak
,
and
afterwards
I
found
each
locket
had
a
portrait
of
some
pet
animal
who
is
dead
in
it
,
and
a
piece
of
its
hair
.
You
would
never
guess
that
she
is
Lady
Cecilia
's
sister
,
except
for
the
bulgy
eyes
.
Towards
the
end
of
dinner
Mr.
Doran
got
so
gay
,
he
talked
and
laughed
so
you
would
not
have
recognised
him
,
as
ordinarily
he
is
a
timid
little
thing
.
After
Dinner
When
we
returned
to
the
great
drawing-room
,
it
was
really
comic
.
Lady
Theodosia
did
not
make
any
pretence
of
talking
to
the
people
.
Her
whole
attention
was
with
the
"
children
,
"
who
had
just
been
let
loose
from
her
boudoir
,
where
her
maid
had
been
keeping
them
company
while
we
dined
.
They
were
as
jealous
as
possible
of
Fanny
,
who
never
leaves
any
part
of
Lady
Theodosia
she
can
stick
on
to
.
She
is
so
small
that
she
gets
lots
of
nice
rides
asleep
on
the
folds
of
her
velvet
train
.
Most
of
the
company
were
terrified
at
this
avalanche
of
dogs
,
and
kept
saying
,
when
they
came
and
sniffed
and
barked
at
them
,
"
poor
doggie
,
"
"
nice
doggie
,
"
"
good
doggie
,
"
etc.
,
in
different
keys
of
nervousness
.
I
felt
glad
Agnès
had
insisted
that
I
should
not
put
on
one
of
my
best
dresses
.
She
highly
disapproves
of
this
place
.
As
well
spend
the
time
in
the
Jardin
des
Plantes
with
the
cage
doors
undone
,
she
says
!
Now
and
then
,
when
Lady
Theodosia
could
bring
herself
to
remember
she
had
a
party
,
she
would
make
a
dash
at
some
one
,
and
as
likely
as
not
call
them
by
a
wrong
name
.
Lady
Devnant
and
Mrs.
de
Lacy
and
the
few
more
county
people
made
a
little
ring
with
her
by
themselves
,
and
gradually
the
doctors
'
,
and
parsons
'
,
and
lawyers
'
families
got
together
,
and
so
things
settled
down
,
and
we
were
getting
on
quite
nicely
when
the
men
came
in
.
It
did
all
seem
queer
after
the
extreme
ceremony
and
politeness
in
France
.
When
she
had
fed
them
,
Lady
Theodosia
seemed
to
think
her
duty
to
her
guests
had
ended
.
Mr.
Doran
was
still
as
gay
as
possible
,
and
insisted
upon
Mrs.
Pluffield
singing
;
it
was
a
love-and-tombstone
kind
of
song
,
and
sounded
so
silly
and
old-fashioned
.
And
after
that
lots
of
people
had
to
sing
,
and
I
felt
so
sorry
for
them
;
but
soon
their
carriages
came
,
and
they
were
able
to
go
home
;
if
I
were
they
nothing
would
induce
me
to
come
again
.
I
got
up
early
to
write
this
as
the
post
goes
at
an
unearthly
hour
,
so
now
I
must
go
down
to
breakfast
.
—
Good-bye
,
dear
Mamma
,
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
Retby
,
September
22nd
.
Settling
Down
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
I
was
surprised
yesterday
when
I
got
down
to
breakfast
to
find
Lady
Theodosia
already
there
.
She
is
awfully
active
,
and
puffs
about
everywhere
like
a
steam-engine
.
She
will
pour
out
the
tea
and
coffee
herself
,
and
there
is
just
the
one
long
table
,
not
a
lot
of
little
ones
like
at
Nazeby
;
but
our
party
is
quite
small
,
the
four
other
guns
were
to
come
from
the
neighbourhood
.
Lady
Theodosia
asks
you
if
you
take
sugar
and
cream
,
and
then
perhaps
a
dog
takes
off
her
attention
,
and
as
likely
as
not
,
when
she
remembers
the
pouring
out
,
you
get
just
what
you
have
said
you
do
n't
take
.
I
wonder
she
does
not
leave
it
to
the
servants
.
Mr.
Doran
was
as
quiet
as
a
mouse
,
and
said
he
had
a
bad
headache
.
The
three
other
men
had
enormous
breakfasts
,
and
did
not
speak
much
,
except
that
Captain
Fieldin
asked
if
we
were
not
coming
out
to
lunch
;
and
Lady
Theodosia
said
of
course
we
were
—
she
intended
to
drive
me
in
her
pony
carriage
.
When
they
had
all
started
,
she
took
me
back
to
the
boudoir
,
as
it
was
a
Wednesday
,
and
the
state
apartments
were
on
show
,
and
she
hates
meeting
the
tourists
from
Bradford
.
I
think
it
must
be
dreadful
having
to
let
everybody
look
through
your
home
,
just
because
you
have
fine
pictures
,
and
it
is
historical
,
and
a
prince
got
murdered
there
a
hundred
years
ago
.
Mr.
Doran
inherited
it
through
his
mother
,
I
think
you
said
,
as
there
are
no
Lord
Retbys
left
.
A
Show
Place
I
went
to
get
the
photograph
of
you
I
always
have
on
my
dressing-table
,
to
show
it
to
Lady
Theodosia
,
and
I
met
quite
a
troop
of
tourists
on
the
stairs
,
and
all
the
place
railed
off
with
fat
red
cords
,
and
everything
being
explained
to
them
by
a
guide
who
has
the
appearance
of
a
very
haughty
butler
,
and
lives
here
just
to
do
this
,
and
look
after
the
things
.
The
tourists
stared
at
me
because
I
was
inside
the
rope
,
just
as
if
I
had
been
a
Royalty
,
and
whispered
and
nudged
one
another
,
and
one
said
,
"
Is
that
Lady
Theodosia
?
"
and
I
felt
inclined
to
call
out
"
No
,
not
by
twelve
stone
.
"
It
was
funny
seeing
them
.
The
housekeeper
hates
it
;
she
says
it
takes
six
housemaids
the
rest
of
the
day
removing
their
traces
,
and
getting
rid
of
the
smell
.
And
as
for
the
Bank
Holiday
ones
,
they
have
no
respect
for
the
house
at
all
.
Lady
Theodosia
told
me
the
housekeeper
came
to
her
nearly
weeping
after
the
last
one
.
"
Oh
,
my
lady
,
"
she
said
,
"
they
treats
us
as
if
we
was
ruins
.
"
Mr.
Harrington
had
not
been
allowed
to
shoot
,
because
the
St.
Bernard
and
Fluff
hated
their
muzzles
so
,
when
they
were
tried
on
,
that
he
had
to
go
in
to
the
local
harness-maker
and
have
them
altered
under
his
own
eye
.
He
got
back
just
as
we
were
starting
for
lunch
,
and
Lady
Theodosia
made
him
come
with
us
,
and
sent
the
groom
on
with
the
lunch
carts
.
She
drives
one
of
those
old-fashioned
,
very
low
pony-shays
,
with
a
seat
up
behind
for
the
groom
,
and
two
such
ducks
of
ponies
.
There
hardly
seemed
room
for
me
beside
her
,
and
the
springs
seemed
dreadfully
down
on
her
side
.
She
generally
sits
in
the
middle
when
alone
,
Mr.
Harrington
told
me
afterwards
.
She
noticed
about
the
springs
herself
,
and
said
,
"
Frederick
,
you
must
lean
all
your
weight
on
the
other
side
.
"
We
must
have
looked
odd
going
along
;
I
squashed
in
beside
her
with
a
poodle
and
Fanny
at
my
feet
,
and
poor
Mr.
Harrington
clinging
to
one
side
like
grim
death
,
so
as
to
try
and
get
the
balance
more
level
.
It
seemed
quite
a
long
drive
,
and
lunch
was
laid
out
on
a
trestle
table
in
a
farmhouse
garden
,
and
was
a
splendid
repast
,
with
hot
entrées
,
and
Lady
Theodosia
had
some
of
them
all
.
Mr.
Doran
's
Philanthropy
It
appears
Captain
Fieldin
and
Sir
Augustus
Grant
are
constantly
staying
here
;
they
help
to
ride
Mr.
Doran
's
horses
and
shoot
his
birds
.
They
are
all
old
friends
,
and
rather
hard
up
,
so
Mr.
Doran
just
keeps
them
.
He
—
Mr.
Doran
—
seems
different
after
meals
;
from
being
as
quiet
as
a
lamb
,
he
gets
quite
coarse
and
blunt
.
The
rest
of
the
party
were
just
the
kind
of
neighbours
that
always
come
to
shoot
.
Mr.
Roper
told
me
they
never
have
smart
parties
,
with
only
the
best
shots
,
and
heaps
of
beautiful
ladies
.
Mr.
Doran
asks
just
any
one
he
likes
,
or
he
happens
to
meet
,
and
the
shooting
is
some
of
the
best
in
England
,
and
awfully
well
preserved
.
Lady
Theodosia
had
a
very
short
tweed
skirt
on
,
a
black
velvet
jacket
with
bugles
,
and
a
boat-shaped
hat
and
cocks
'
feathers
;
but
she
always
wears
the
black
velvet
band
round
her
forehead
.
Her
ankles
seemed
to
be
falling
over
the
tops
of
her
boots
,
and
as
she
only
walked
from
the
carriage
to
the
lunch
table
,
I
do
n't
think
her
skirt
need
have
been
so
short
;
do
you
,
Mamma
?
But
although
she
was
got
up
like
an
old
gipsy
you
could
not
help
seeing
through
it
all
that
she
really
is
well-bred
;
I
do
n't
think
even
Agnès
would
dare
to
be
uppish
with
her
.
They
live
here
at
Retby
all
the
year
round
.
The
town
house
is
only
opened
for
three
days
,
when
Lady
Theodosia
comes
up
for
the
Drawing-room
.
And
they
seem
to
have
a
lot
of
these
rather
dull
,
oldish
men
friends
who
make
long
visits
.
Going
home
after
lunch
Lady
Theodosia
took
several
of
the
pies
and
joints
to
poor
people
in
the
cottages
near
,
and
she
was
so
nice
to
them
,
and
so
friendly
;
she
knows
them
all
and
all
their
affairs
,
and
never
makes
mistakes
with
their
names
,
or
is
rude
and
discourteous
as
she
was
to
the
people
at
the
dinner
party
.
They
all
adore
her
.
She
hates
the
middle
classes
,
she
says
,
she
would
like
to
live
in
Russia
,
where
there
are
only
the
upper
and
lower
.
Croquet
under
Difficulties
When
we
got
back
,
Lord
and
Lady
Tyneville
had
arrived
with
their
two
daughters
.
They
are
about
my
age
,
and
quite
nice
and
pretty
;
but
their
mother
dresses
them
so
queerly
,
they
look
rather
guys
.
I
am
glad
,
Mamma
,
that
you
have
none
of
those
silly
ideas
,
and
that
I
have
not
got
to
have
my
hair
in
a
large
bun
with
ribbons
twisted
in
it
for
dinner
.
They
seem
quite
accustomed
to
stay
here
,
and
know
all
the
dogs
and
their
ways
.
They
are
much
nicer
than
French
girls
,
but
not
so
attractive
as
Miss
La
Touche
.
We
had
an
early
tea
in
the
hall
,
and
after
tea
we
played
croquet
until
it
got
dark
,
though
one
could
not
get
on
very
well
as
the
dogs
constantly
carried
off
the
balls
in
their
mouths
,
and
one
had
to
guess
where
to
put
them
back
,
and
in
that
way
Lady
Theodosia
,
who
was
my
partner
,
managed
to
get
through
three
hoops
she
would
n't
have
otherwise
.
It
is
n't
much
fun
playing
so
late
in
the
year
,
as
it
gets
so
cold
.
I
think
the
elder
Miss
Everleigh
is
in
love
with
Mr.
Roper
,
because
she
blushed
,
just
as
they
do
in
books
,
when
he
came
in
,
and
from
being
quiet
and
nice
,
got
rather
gigglish
.
I
hope
I
sha
n't
do
that
when
I
am
in
love
.
We
had
quite
a
gay
dinner
;
Lady
Tyneville
talks
all
the
time
,
and
says
such
funny
things
.
I
am
really
enjoying
myself
very
much
in
spite
of
there
being
no
excitements
,
like
the
Marquis
and
the
Vicomte
.
To-day
we
are
going
to
make
an
excursion
into
Hernminster
to
see
the
Cathedral
,
and
to-morrow
they
shoot
again
.
—
Good-bye
,
dear
Mamma
,
with
love
from
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
Retby
,
Thursday
.
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
I
do
n't
think
I
care
about
looking
at
churches
much
.
They
do
n't
smell
here
as
they
do
in
France
,
but
on
the
other
hand
they
look
deserted
,
and
as
if
no
one
cared
a
pin
,
and
there
are
generally
repairs
going
on
or
monuments
piled
up
at
the
side
waiting
to
be
put
back
or
something
that
does
n't
look
tidy
—
in
the
big
ones
I
mean
,
like
York
and
Hernminster
that
we
saw
yesterday
.
Mr.
Doran
drove
us
in
on
the
coach
,
and
Lady
Theodosia
sat
on
the
box
beside
him
.
It
was
too
wonderful
to
see
her
climbing
up
,
and
from
the
near
side
she
completely
hid
Mr.
Doran
;
the
reins
looked
as
if
they
were
staying
up
by
themselves
,
you
could
not
see
even
his
hands
,
her
mountainous
outline
blocked
all
the
space
.
Miss
Everleigh
and
Mr.
Roper
and
I
and
Sir
Augustus
sat
in
the
seat
behind
the
box
seat
,
and
the
other
Everleigh
sat
with
her
father
in
the
back
,
while
Mr.
Harrington
had
to
go
inside
with
Lady
Tyneville
as
she
was
afraid
of
the
cold
wind
.
They
must
have
had
a
nice
time
,
for
both
poodles
were
in
there
too
,
and
one
terrier
,
and
we
could
hear
them
barking
constantly
.
Fanny
,
who
has
a
wonderful
sense
of
balance
,
was
poised
somewhere
on
Lady
Theodosia
.
The
horses
are
beauties
and
we
went
at
a
splendid
pace
.
An
Agreeable
Drive
Sir
Augustus
does
n't
seem
so
old
when
he
is
sitting
by
you
;
he
said
a
lot
of
nice
things
to
me
.
We
went
straight
to
the
"
Red
Lion
"
and
had
lunch
,
and
it
was
a
horrid
meal
,
everything
over
or
underdone
,
and
messy
and
nasty
.
The
dinner
at
a
teeny
place
like
Caudebec
in
France
was
delicious
.
I
wonder
why
food
at
country
hotels
in
England
is
so
bad
?
At
Retby
Lady
Theodosia
wo
n't
touch
anything
unless
it
is
absolutely
perfect
.
She
sent
a
dish
away
yesterday
just
because
a
whiff
of
some
flavouring
she
does
not
like
came
to
her
,
but
at
the
"
Red
Lion
"
she
did
not
grumble
at
all
;
it
must
be
for
the
same
reason
that
wetting
their
feet
does
n't
give
French
people
cold
if
it
is
at
a
national
sport
,
that
made
her
put
up
with
the
lunch
because
it
was
English
and
had
always
been
the
same
.
I
was
glad
to
have
a
nice
piece
of
cheese
.
All
the
time
I
was
with
Godmamma
I
was
not
allowed
to
,
as
it
is
n't
considered
proper
for
girls
there
,
and
when
I
asked
Victorine
why
one
day
,
she
told
me
it
gave
ideas
,
and
was
too
exciting
,
whatever
that
could
mean
.
So
at
the
"
Red
Lion
"
I
just
had
two
helpings
to
see
,
as
this
is
the
first
chance
I
have
had
,
as
you
do
n't
care
for
cheese
at
home
.
But
nothing
happened
,
I
did
not
feel
at
all
excited
,
so
it
must
be
because
they
are
French
.
Must
n't
it
?
Country
Shopping
First
we
went
to
a
curiosity
shop
before
going
to
the
Cathedral
,
and
there
was
such
an
odd
man
owned
it
.
"
My
good
Griggson
,
"
Lady
Theodosia
called
him
;
he
seemed
quite
pleased
—
although
we
none
of
us
bought
anything
—
and
so
friendly
with
Lady
Theodosia
.
When
we
had
finished
trotting
about
looking
at
the
old
streets
and
the
Cathedral
,
we
went
to
buy
some
mauve
silk
to
line
a
cushion
that
Lady
Tyneville
has
embroidered
as
a
present
to
Lady
Theodosia
.
It
is
so
funny
in
these
country
shops
,
they
always
bring
you
what
you
do
n't
want
.
Lady
Tyneville
said
she
wanted
mauve
,
and
showed
her
pattern
,
and
after
some
time
the
girl
who
served
her
came
back
and
said
,
"
Oh
!
we
are
out
of
mauve
,
but
green
is
being
very
much
worn
.
"
We
went
back
to
the
"
Red
Lion
"
and
Mr.
Doran
and
Captain
Fieldin
joined
us
.
They
had
been
at
the
Club
all
the
time
,
and
were
full
of
local
news
about
the
cub
hunting
,
etc.
On
the
way
back
to
Retby
Sir
Augustus
told
me
he
was
struck
with
me
the
moment
he
came
into
Lady
Theodosia
's
boudoir
,
and
he
tried
to
take
hold
of
my
hand
.
I
call
it
very
queer
,
do
n't
you
?
I
suppose
it
is
because
they
think
I
am
young
and
want
encouraging
,
but
I
simply
detest
it
,
and
I
told
him
so
.
I
said
,
"
Why
should
you
want
to
hold
my
hand
?
"
and
when
he
looked
foolish
and
mumbled
some
answer
,
I
just
said
,
"
Because
if
you
are
afraid
of
falling
,
and
it
is
to
hold
on
,
there
is
the
outside
rail
of
the
coach
for
you
;
I
hate
being
pawed
.
"
He
said
I
was
a
disagreeable
little
thing
,
and
would
never
get
on
in
life
.
But
you
can
see
,
Mamma
,
how
everything
has
changed
since
you
were
young
.
Mr.
Harrington
's
Fault
Lady
Theodosia
put
on
such
a
splendid
purple
brocade
tea-gown
for
tea
,
but
Fluff
would
jump
up
at
the
tray
,
and
succeeded
at
last
in
upsetting
a
whole
jug
of
cream
over
her
.
She
was
sitting
in
a
very
low
chair
that
it
is
difficult
to
get
out
of
,
and
she
looked
quite
piteous
with
billows
of
cream
rolling
off
her
;
it
got
into
Fanny
's
nose
and
made
her
sneeze
,
and
that
annoyed
the
other
dogs
,
and
they
all
began
to
fight
,
and
the
St.
Bernard
joined
in
,
and
in
his
excitement
he
overturned
the
whole
table
and
tray
.
You
never
saw
such
a
catastrophe
!
The
dogs
got
quite
wild
with
joy
,
and
left
off
fighting
to
gobble
cakes
,
and
when
Mr.
Harrington
,
who
had
been
away
writing
letters
,
rushed
in
to
see
what
the
commotion
was
,
he
did
catch
it
!
We
extricated
Lady
Theodosia
from
masses
of
broken
china
and
dribbles
of
jam
,
in
the
most
awful
rage
.
She
said
it
was
entirely
Mr.
Harrington
's
fault
for
not
being
there
to
look
after
the
dogs
.
Considering
she
had
sent
him
to
write
about
their
muzzles
,
I
do
call
it
hard
,
do
n't
you
?
Mr.
Doran
came
in
,
and
when
he
saw
the
best
Crown
Derby
smashed
on
the
floor
,
and
the
teapot
all
bent
,
he
became
quite
transformed
,
and
swore
dreadfully
.
He
said
such
rude
words
,
Mamma
,
that
I
cannot
even
write
them
,
and
it
ended
up
with
,
"
If
you
keep
a
d----d
puppy
to
look
after
your
other
d----d
puppies
,
why
the
devil
do
n't
you
see
he
does
it
!
"
I
hope
you
are
n't
awfully
shocked
,
Mamma
,
at
me
writing
that
;
I
was
obliged
to
,
to
show
you
what
awful
creatures
men
really
are
underneath
,
even
if
their
outsides
look
as
meek
as
Mr.
Doran
's
.
Lady
Theodosia
burst
into
tears
,
and
it
was
altogether
a
fearful
scene
if
it
had
not
been
so
funny
to
look
at
.
We
none
of
us
got
any
tea
,
for
by
the
time
Lady
Theodosia
had
been
got
to
dry
her
eyes
,
and
things
were
cleared
up
,
we
were
all
only
too
glad
to
disperse
.
I
am
sure
a
lot
of
children
could
not
be
so
naughty
as
these
dogs
are
.
A
prudent
Retirement
Dinner
began
by
being
rather
strained
,
but
gradually
got
quite
gay
.
Mr.
Doran
would
have
up
three
different
brands
of
champagne
for
every
one
to
try
,
and
the
men
seemed
to
like
them
very
much
.
By
dessert
everything
was
lively
again
,
and
dinner
ended
by
Mr.
Doran
singing
"
The
hounds
of
the
Meynell
,
"
with
one
foot
on
the
table
as
gay
as
a
lark
.
But
was
n't
it
tiresome
,
Mamma
?
when
we
got
into
the
drawing-room
,
Lady
Theodosia
said
we
had
had
a
long
day
,
and
must
be
tired
,
and
she
packed
the
two
Everleighs
and
me
off
to
bed
before
the
men
came
in
,
and
so
here
I
am
writing
to
you
,
because
it
is
ridiculous
to
suppose
I
am
going
to
sleep
at
this
hour
.
Agnès
and
I
leave
by
the
early
train
on
Saturday
morning
,
so
good-bye
till
then
,
dear
Mamma
;
love
from
your
affectionate
daughter
,
Elizabeth
.
CARRISTON
TOWERS
Carriston
Towers
,
27th
October
.
Carriston
Towers
Dearest
Mamma
,
—
I
shall
never
again
arrive
at
a
place
at
three
o'clock
in
the
afternoon
;
it
is
perfectly
ghastly
!
As
we
drove
up
to
the
door
—
it
was
pouring
with
rain
—
I
felt
that
I
should
not
like
anything
here
.
It
does
look
such
a
large
grey
pile
:
and
how
cold
and
draughty
that
immense
stone
hall
must
be
in
winter
!
There
were
no
nice
big
sofas
about
,
or
palms
,
or
lots
of
papers
and
books
;
nothing
but
suits
of
armour
and
great
marble
tables
,
looking
like
monuments
.
I
was
taken
down
endless
passages
to
the
library
,
and
there
left
such
a
long
time
that
I
had
got
down
an
old
Punch
and
was
looking
at
it
,
and
trying
to
warm
my
feet
,
when
Lady
Carriston
came
in
with
Adeline
.
I
remember
how
I
hated
playing
with
her
years
ago
;
she
always
patronised
me
,
being
three
years
older
,
and
she
is
just
the
same
now
,
only
both
their
backs
have
got
longer
and
their
noses
more
arched
,
and
they
are
the
image
of
each
other
.
Adeline
seems
very
suppressed
;
Lady
Carriston
does
not
—
her
face
is
carved
out
of
stone
.
They
look
very
well
bred
and
respectable
,
and
badly
dressed
;
nothing
rustled
nicely
when
they
walked
,
and
they
had
not
their
nails
polished
,
or
scent
on
,
or
anything
like
that
;
but
Lady
Carriston
had
a
splendid
row
of
pearls
round
her
throat
,
on
the
top
of
her
rough
tweed
dress
and
linen
collar
.
They
pronounce
their
words
very
distinctly
,
in
an
elevated
kind
of
way
,
and
you
feel
as
if
icicles
were
trickling
down
your
back
,
and
you
ca
n't
think
of
a
thing
to
say
.
When
we
had
got
to
the
end
of
your
neuralgia
and
my
journey
,
there
was
such
a
pause
!
and
I
suppose
they
thought
I
was
an
idiot
,
and
were
only
too
glad
to
get
me
off
to
my
room
,
where
Adeline
took
me
,
and
left
me
,
hoping
I
had
everything
I
wanted
,
and
saying
tea
was
at
five
in
the
blue
drawing-room
.
And
there
I
had
to
stay
while
Agnès
unpacked
.
It
was
dull
!
It
is
a
big
room
,
and
the
