suchanightasthisbroughtaregularharvestofgainstothetwooldmenwho，inwhatwascalledthe’town’slivery，’trottedbackwardsandforwardswiththeirmanyloadsofladiesandfinery。Thereweresomepostchaises，andsome’flys，’butaftermaturedeliberationMissBrowninghaddecidedtokeeptothemorecomfortablecustomofthesedan—chair；’which，’asshesaidtoMissPiper，oneofhervisitors，’cameintotheparlour，andgotfullofthewarmair，andnippedyouup，andcarriedyoutightandcosyintoanotherwarmroom，whereyoucouldwalkoutwithouthavingtoshowyourlegsbygoingupsteps，ordownsteps。’Ofcourseonlyonecouldgoatatime；buthereagainalittleofMissBrowning’sgoodmanagementarrangedeverythingsoverynicely，asMissHornblower（theirothervisitor）
　　remarked。Shewentfirst，andremainedinthewarmcloak—roomuntilherhostessfollowed；andthenthetwoladieswentarm—in—armintotheball—room，findingoutconvenientseatswhencetheycouldwatchthearrivalsandspeaktotheirpassingfriends，untilMissPhoebeandMissPiperentered，andcametotakepossessionoftheseatsreservedforthembyMissBrowning’scare。Thesetwoyoungerladiescamein，alsoarm—in—arm，butwithacertaintimidflurryinlookandmovementverydifferentfromthecomposeddignityoftheirseniors（bytwoorthreeyears）。Whenallfourwereoncemoreassembledtogether，theytookbreath，andbegantoconverse。’Uponmyword，IreallydothinkthisisabetterroomthanourAshcombeCourt—house！’’Andhowprettilyitisdecorated！’pipedoutMissPiper。’Howwelltherosesaremade！ButyouallhavesuchtasteatHollingford。’’There’sMrsDempster，’criedMissHornblower；’shesaidsheandhertwodaughterswereaskedtostayatMrSheepshanks’。MrPrestonwastobethere，too；butIsupposetheycouldnotallcomeatonce。Look！
　　andthereisyoungRoscoe，ournewdoctor。IdeclareitseemsasifallAshcombewerehere。MrRoscoe！MrRoscoe！comehereandletmeintroduceyoutotheMissBrownings，thefriendswearestayingwith。Wethinkveryhighlyofouryoungdoctor，Icanassureyou，MissBrowning。’MrRoscoebowed，andsimperedathearinghisownpraises。ButMissBrowninghadnonotionofhavinganydoctorpraised，whohadcometosettleevenontheveryvergeofMrGibson’spractice，soshesaidtoMissHornblower，—’Youmustbeglad，Iamsure，tohavesomebodyyoucancallin，ifyouareinanysuddenhurry，orforthingsthataretootriflingtotroubleMrGibsonabout；andIshouldthinkMrRoscoewouldfeelitagreatadvantagetoprofit，ashewillnaturallyhavetheopportunityofdoing，bywitnessingMrGibson’sskill！’ProbablyMrRoscoewouldhavefeltmoreaggrievedbythisspeechthanhereallywas，ifhisattentionhadnotbeencalledoffjustthenbytheentranceoftheveryMrGibsonwhowasbeingspokenof。AlmostbeforeMissBrowninghadendedhersevereanddepreciatoryremarks，hehadaskedhisfriendMissHornblower，—’Whoisthatlovelygirlinpink，justcomein？’’Why，that’sCynthiaKirkpatrick！’saidMissHornblower，takingupaponderousgoldeyeglasstomakesureofherfact。’Howshehasgrown！TobesureitistwoorthreeyearssincesheleftAshcombe—shewasveryprettythen—peopledidsayMrPrestonadmiredherverymuch；butshewassoyoung！’’Canyouintroduceme？’askedtheimpatientyoungsurgeon。’Ishouldliketoaskhertodance。’WhenMissHornblowerreturnedfromhergreetingtoherformeracquaintance，MrsGibson，andhadaccomplishedtheintroductionwhichMrRoscoehadrequested，shebeganherlittleconfidencestoMissBrowning。’Well，tobesure！Howcondescendingweare！IrememberthetimewhenMrsKirkpatrickworeoldblacksilks，andwasthankfulandcivilasbecameherplaceasaschoolmistress，andashavingtoearnherbread。Andnowsheisinasatin；andshespeakstomeasifshejustcouldrecollectwhoIwas，ifshetriedveryhard！Itisn’tsolongagosinceMrsDempstercametoconsultmeastowhetherMrsKirkpatrickwouldbeoffended，ifshesentheranewbreadthforherlilacsilk—gown，inplaceofonethathadbeenspoiltbyMrsDempster’sservantspillingthecoffeeoveritthenightbefore；andshetookitandwasthankful，forallshe’sdressedinpearl—greysatinnow！AndshewouldhavebeengladenoughtomarryMrPrestoninthosedays。’’Ithoughtyousaidheadmiredherdaughter，’putinMissBrowningtoherirritatedfriend。’Well！perhapsIdid，andperhapsitwasso；IamsureIcan’ttell；hewasagreatdealatthehouse。MissDixonkeepsaschoolinthesamehousenow，andIamsureshedoesitagreatdealbetter。’’TheearlandthecountessareveryfondofMrsGibson，’saidMissBrowning。
　　’Iknow，forLadyHarriettolduswhenshecametodrinkteawithuslastautumn；andtheydesiredMrPrestontobeveryattentivetoherwhenshelivedatAshcombe。’’Forgoodness’sakedon’tgoandrepeatwhatI’vebeensayingaboutMrPrestonandMrsKirkpatricktoherladyship。Onemaybemistaken，andyouknowIonlysaid"peopletalkedaboutit。"’MissHornblowerwasevidentlyalarmedlesthergossipshouldberepeatedtotheLadyHarriet，whoappearedtobeonsuchanintimatefootingwithherHollingfordfriends。NordidMissBrowningdissipatetheillusion。
　　LadyHarriethaddrunkteawiththem，andmightdoitagain；and，atanyrate，thelittlefrightshehadputherfriendintowasnotabadreturnforthatpraiseofMrRoscoe，whichhadoffendedMissBrowning’sloyaltytoMrGibson。MeanwhileMissPiperandMissPhoebe，whohadnotthecharacterofesprit—fortstomaintain，talkedofthedressesofthepeoplepresent，beginningbycomplimentingeachother。’Whatalovelyturbanyouhavegoton，MissPiper，ifImaybeallowedtosayso：sobecomingtoyourcomplexion！’’Doyouthinkso？’saidMissPiper，withill—concealedgratification；itwassomethingtohavea’complexion’atforty—five。’IgotitatBrown’s，atSomerton，forthisveryball。IthoughtImusthavesomethingtosetoffmygown，whichisn’tquitesonewasitoncewas；andIhavenohandsomejewellerylikeyou’—lookingwithadmiringeyesatalargeminiaturesetroundwithpearls，whichservedasashieldtoMissPhoebe’sbreast。’Itishandsome，’thatladyreplied。’Itisalikenessofmydearmother；
　　Sallyhasgotmyfatheron。Theminiatureswerebothtakenatthesametime；andjustaboutthenmyunclediedandleftuseachalegacyoffiftypounds，whichweagreedtospendonthesettingofourminiatures。ButbecausetheyaresovaluableSallyalwayskeepsthemlockedupwiththebestsilver，andhidestheboxsomewhere；sheneverwilltellmewhere，becauseshesaysI’vesuchweaknerves，andthatifaburglar，withaloadedpistolatmyhead，weretoaskmewherewekeptourplateandjewels，I
　　shouldbesuretotellhim；andshesays，forherpart，shewouldneverthinkofrevealingunderanycircumstances。（I’msureIhopeshewon’tbetried。）Butthat’sthereasonIdon’twearitoften；it’sonlythesecondtimeI’vehaditon；andIcan’tevengetatit，andlookatit，whichIshouldliketodo。Ishouldn’thavehaditonto—night，butthatSallygaveitouttome，sayingitwasbutapropercomplimenttopaytotheDuchessofMenteith，whoistobehereinallherdiamonds。’’Dear—ah—me！Isshereally！DoyouknowIneversawaduchessbefore。’
　　AndMissPiperdrewherselfupandcranedherneck，asifresolvedto’behaveherselfproperly，’asshehadbeentaughttodoatboarding—schoolthirtyyearsbefore，inthepresenceof’hergrace。’By—and—byshesaidtoMissPhoebe，withasuddenjerkoutofposition，—’Look，look！that’sourMrCholmley，themagistrate’（hewasthegreatmanofCoreham），’andthat’sMrsCholmleyinredsatin，andMrGeorgeandMrHarryfromOxford，Idodeclare；andMissCholmley，andprettyMissSophy。Ishouldliketogoandspeaktothem，butthenit’ssoformidablecrossing。aroomwithoutagentleman。AndthereisCoxethebutcherandhiswife！Why，allCorehamseemstobehere！AndhowMrsCoxecanaffordsuchagownIcan’tmakeoutforone，forIknowCoxehadsomedifficultyinpayingforthelastsheepheboughtofmybrother。’Justatthismomenttheband，consistingoftwoviolins，aharp，andanoccasionalclarionet，havingfinishedtheirtuning，andbroughtthemselvesasnearlyintoaccordaswaspossible，struckupabriskcountry—dance，andpartnersquicklytooktheirplaces。MrsGibsonwassecretlyalittleannoyedatCynthia’sbeingoneofthosetostandupinthisearlydance，theperformersinwhichwereprincipallythepunctualplebeiansofHollingford，who，whenaballwasfixedtobeginateight，hadnonotionofbeinglater，andsolosingpartoftheamusementforwhichtheyhadpaidtheirmoney。
　　SheimpartedsomeofherfeelingstoMolly，sittingbyher，longingtodance，andbeatingtimetothespiritedmusicwithoneofherprettylittlefeet。’Yourdearpapaisalwayssoverypunctual！To—nightitseemsalmostapity，forwereallyareherebeforethereisanyonecomethatweknow。’’Oh！IseesomanypeopleherethatIknow。ThereareMrandMrsSmeaton，andthatnicegood—tempereddaughter。’’Oh！booksellersandbutchersifyouwill。’’Papahasfoundagreatmanyfriendstotalkto。’’Patients，mydear—hardlyfriends。Therearesomenice—lookingpeoplehere，’catchinghereyeontheCholmleys；’butIdaresaytheyhavedrivenoverfromtheneighbourhoodofAshcombeorCoreham，andhavehardlycalculatedhowsoontheywouldgethere。IwonderwhentheTowers’partywillcome。
　　Ah！there’sMrAshton，andMrPreston。Come，theroomisbeginningtofill。’Soitwas，forthiswastobeaverygoodball，peoplesaid；andalargepartyfromtheTowerswascoming，andaduchessindiamondsamongthenumber。
　　Everygreathouseinthedistrictwasexpectedtobefullofguestsontheseoccasions；but，atthisearlyhour，thetownspeoplehadtheflooralmostentirelytothemselves；thecountymagnatescamedroppinginlater；
　　andchiefestamongthemallwasthelord—lieutenantfromtheTowers。Butto—nighttheywereunusuallylate，andthearistocraticozonebeingabsentfromtheatmosphere，therewasaflatnessaboutthedancingofallthosewhoconsideredthemselvesabovetheplebeianranksofthetradespeople。
　　They，however，enjoyedthemselvesthoroughly，andsprangandpoundedtilltheireyessparkledandtheircheeksglowedwithexerciseandexcitement。
　　Someofthemoreprudentparents，mindfulofthenextday’sduties，begantoconsideratwhathourtheyoughttogohome；butwithalltherewasanexpressedorunexpressedcuriositytoseetheduchessandherdiamonds；
　　fortheMenteithdiamondswerefamousinhighercirclesthanthatnowassembled；
　　andtheirfamehadtrickleddowntoitthroughthemediumofladies’—maidsandhousekeepers。MrGibsonhadhadtoleavetheball—roomforatime，ashehadanticipated，buthewastoreturntohiswifeassoonashisdutieswereaccomplished；and，inhisabsence，MrsGibsonkeptherselfalittlealooffromtheMissBrowningsandthoseofheracquaintancewhowouldwillinglyhaveenteredintoconversationwithher，withtheviewofattachingherselftotheskirtsoftheTowers’party，whentheyshouldmaketheirappearance。IfCynthiawouldnotbesoveryreadyinengagingherselftoeverypossiblepartnerwhoaskedhertodance，thereweresuretobeyoungmenstayingattheTowerswhowouldbeonthelook—outforprettygirls：andwhocouldtelltowhatadancewouldlead？Molly，too，thoughalessgooddancerthanCynthia，and，fromhertimidity，lessgracefulandeasy，wasbecomingengagedprettydeeply；and，itmustbeconfessed，shewaslongingtodanceeverydance，nomatterwithwhom。EvenshemightnotbeavailableforthemorearistocraticpartnersMrsGibsonanticipated。
　　Shewasfeelingverymuchannoyedwiththewholeproceedingsoftheeveningwhenshewasawareofsomeonestandingbyher；and，turningalittletooneside，shesawMrPrestonkeepingguard，asitwere，overtheseatswhichMollyandCynthiahadjustquitted。Hewaslookingsoblackthat，iftheireyeshadnotmet，MrsGibsonwouldhavepreferrednotspeakingtohim；asitwas，shethoughtitunavoidable。’Theroomsarenotwell—lightedto—night，arethey，MrPreston？’’No，’saidhe；’butwhocouldlightsuchdingyoldpaintasthis，loadedwithevergreens，too，whichalwaysdarkenaroom。’’Andthecompany，too！Ialwaysthinkthatfreshnessandbrilliancyofdressgoasfarasanythingtobrightenuparoom。Lookwhatasetofpeoplearehere：thegreaterpartofthewomenaredressedindarksilks，reallyonlyfitforamorning。Theplacewillbequitedifferent，by—and—by，whenthecountyfamiliesareinalittlemoreforce。’MrPrestonmadenoreply。Hehadputhisglassinhiseye，apparentlyforthepurposeofwatchingthedancers。Ifitsexactdirectioncouldhavebeenascertained，itwouldhavebeenfoundthathewaslookingintentlyandangrilyataflyingfigureinpinkmuslin：manyaonewasgazingatCynthiawithintentnessbesideshimself，butnooneinanger。MrsGibsonwasnotsofineanobserverastoreadallthis；butherewasagentlemanlyandhandsomeyoungman，towhomshecouldprattle，insteadofeitherjoiningherselfontoobjectionablepeople，orsittingallforlornuntiltheTowers’
　　partycame。Soshewentonwithhersmallremarks。’Youarenotdancing，MrPreston！’’No！ThepartnerIhadengagedhasmadesomemistake。Iamwaitingtohaveanexplanationwithher。’MrsGibsonwassilent。Anuncomfortabletideofrecollectionsappearedtocomeoverher；she，likeMrPreston，watchedCynthia；thedancewasended，andshewaswalkingroundtheroomineasyunconcernastowhatmightawaither。Presentlyherpartner，MrHarryCholmley，broughtherbacktoherseat。ShetookthatvacantnexttoMrPreston，leavingthatbyhermotherforMolly’soccupation。Thelatterreturnedamomentafterwardstoherplace。CynthiaseemedentirelyunconsciousofMrPreston’sneighbourhood。
　　MrsGibsonleanedforwards，andsaidtoherdaughter，—’Yourlastpartnerwasagentleman，mydear。Youareimprovinginyourselection。Ireallywasashamedofyoubefore，figuringawaywiththatattorney’sclerk。Molly，doyouknowwhomyouhavebeendancingwith？I
　　havefoundoutheistheCorehambookseller。’’ThataccountsforhisbeingsowellupinallthebooksIhavebeenwantingtohearabout，’saidMolly，eagerly，butwithaspiceofmaliceinhermind。’Hereallywasverypleasant，mamma，’sheadded；’andhelooksquiteagentleman，anddancesbeautifully！’’Verywell。Butrememberifyougoonthiswayyouwillhavetoshakehandsoverthecounterto—morrowmorningwithsomeofyourpartnersofto—night，’
　　saidMrsGibson，coldly。’ButIreallydon’tknowhowtorefusewhenpeopleareintroducedtomeandaskme，andIamlongingtodance。Youknowto—nightitisacharity—ball，andpapasaideverybodydancedwitheverybody，’saidMolly，inapleadingtoneofvoice；forshecouldnotquiteandentirelyenjoyherselfifshewasoutofharmonywithanyone。WhatreplyMrsGibsonwouldhavemadetothisspeechcannotnowbeascertained，for，beforeshecouldmakereply，MrPrestonsteppedalittleforwards，andsaid，inatonewhichhemeanttobeicilyindifferent，butwhichtrembledwithanger，—’IfMissGibsonfindsanydifficultyinrefusingapartner，shehasonlytoapplytoMissKirkpatrickforinstructions。’Cynthialiftedupherbeautifuleyes，and，fixingthemonMrPreston’sface，said，veryquietly，asifonlystatingamatteroffact，—’Youforget，Ithink，MrPreston：MissGibsonimpliedthatshewishedtodancewiththepersonwhoaskedher—thatmakesallthedifference。I
　　can’tinstructherhowtoactinthatdifficulty。’Andtotherestofthislittleconversation，Cynthiaappearedtolendnocar；andshewasalmostdirectlyclaimedbyhernextpartner。MrPrestontooktheseatnowleftemptymuchtoMolly’sannoyance。Atfirstshefearedlestheshouldbegoingtoaskhertodance；but，instead，heputouthishandforCynthia’snosegay，whichshehadleftonrising，entrustedtoMolly。Ithadsufferedconsiderablyfromtheheatoftheroom，andwasnolongerfullandfresh；notsomuchsoasMolly’s，whichhadnot，inthefirstinstance，beenpulledtopiecesinpickingoutthescarletflowerswhichnowadornedMolly’shair，andwhichhadsincebeencherishedwithmorecare。Enough，however，remainedofCynthia’stoshowverydistinctlythatitwasnottheoneMrPrestonhadsent；anditwasperhapstoconvincehimselfofthis，thathemutelyaskedtoexamineit。ButMolly，faithfultowhatsheimaginedwouldbeCynthia’swish，refusedtoallowhimtotouchit；sheonlyhelditalittlenearer。’MissKirkpatrickhasnotdonemethehonourofwearingthebouquetIsenther，Isee。Shereceivedit，Isuppose，andmynote？’’Yes，’saidMolly，ratherintimidatedbythetoneinwhichthiswassaid。
　　’Butwehadalreadyacceptedthesetwonosegays。’MrsGibsonwasjustthepersontocometotherescuewithherhoneyedwordsonsuchanoccasionas’thepresent。SheevidentlywasratherafraidofMrPreston，andwishedtokeepatpeacewithhim。’Oh，yes，weweresosorry！Ofcourse，Idon’tmeantosaywecouldbesorryforanyone’skindness；buttwosuchlovelynosegayshadbeensentfromHamleyHall—youmayseehowbeautifulfromwhatMollyholdsinherhand—andtheyhadcomebeforeyours，MrPreston。’’Ishouldhavefelthonouredifyouhadacceptedofmine，sincetheyoungladiesweresowellprovidedfor。IwasatsomepainsinselectingtheflowersatGreen’s；IthinkImaysayitwasrathermorerecherché；thanthatofMissKirkpatrick’s，whichMissGibsonholdssotenderlyandsecurelyinherhand。’’Oh，becauseCynthiawouldtakeoutthemosteffectiveflowerstoputinmyhair！’exclaimedMolly，eagerly。’Didshe？’saidMrPreston’withacertainaccentofpleasureinhisvoice，asthoughheweregladshesetsolittlestorebythenosegay；andhewalkedofftostandbehindCynthiainthequadrillethatwasbeingdanced；andMollysawhimmakingherreplytohim—againstherwill，Mollywassure。
　　But，somehow，hisfaceandmannerimpliedpoweroverher。Shelookedgrave，deaf，indifferent，indignant，defiant；but，afterahalf—whisperedspeechtoCynthia，attheconclusionofthedance，sheevidentlythrewhimanimpatientconsenttowhathewasasking，forhewalkedoffwithadisagreeablesmileofsatisfactiononhishandsomeface。AllthistimethemurmurswerespreadingatthelatenessofthepartyfromtheTowers，andpersonafterpersoncameuptoMrsGibsonasifsheweretheaccreditedauthorityastotheearlandcountess’splans。Inonesensethiswasflattering；butthentheacknowledgmentofcommonignoranceandwonderreducedhertotheleveloftheinquirers。MrsGoodenoughfeltherselfparticularlyaggrieved；shehadhadherspectaclesonforthelasthourandahalf，inordertobereadyforthesighttheveryfirstminuteanyonefromtheTowersappearedatthedoor。’Ihadaheadache，’shecomplained，’andIshouldhavesentmymoney，andneverstirredouto’doorsto—night；forI’veseenamanyofthesehereballs，andmylordandmyladytoo，whentheywerebetterworthlookingatnortheyarenow；buteveryonewastalkingoftheduchess，andtheduchessandherdiamonds，andIthoughtIshouldn’tliketobebehindhand，andneverha’seenneithertheduchessnorherdiamonds；soI’mhere，andcoalandcandlelightwastingawayathome，forItoldSallytositupforme；and，aboveeverything，Icannotabidewaste。Itookitfrommymother，whowassuchaoneagainstwasteasyouneverseenow—a—days。Shewasamanager，ifevertherewasaone，andbroughtupninechildrenonlessthananyoneelsecoulddo，I’llbebound。Why！Shewouldn’tletusbeextravagant—noteveninthematterofcolds。Wheneveranyonushadgotaprettybadcold，shetooktheopportunityandcutourhair；forshesaid，saidshe，itwasofnousehavingtwocoldswhenonewoulddo—andcuttingofourhairwassuretogiveusacold。But，forallthat，Iwishtheduchesswouldcome。’’Ah！butfancywhatitistome，’sighedoutMrsGibson；’solongasI
　　havebeenwithoutseeingthedearfamily—andseeingsolittleofthemtheotherdaywhenIwasattheTowers（fortheduchesswouldhavemyopiniononLadyAlice’strousseau，andkeptaskingmesomanyquestionsittookupallthetime）—andLadyHarriet’slastwordswereahappyanticipationofourmeetingto—night。It’snearlytwelveo’clock。’EveryoneofanypretensionstogentilitywaspainfullyaffectedbytheabsenceofthefamilyfromtheTowers；theveryfiddlersseemedunwillingtobeginplayingadancethatmightbeinterruptedbytheentranceofthegreatfolks。MissPhoebeBrowninghadapologizedforthem—MissBrowninghadblamedthemwithcalmdignity；itwasonlythebutchersandbakersandcandlestick—makerswhoratherenjoyedtheabsenceofrestraint，andwerehappyandhilarious。Atlast，therewasarumbling，andarushing，andawhispering，andthemusicstopped，sothedancerswereobligedtodosotoo，andincameLordCumnorinhisstatedress，withafat，middle—agedwomanonhisarm；shewasdressedalmostlikeagirl—inaspriggedmuslin，withnaturalflowersinherhair，butnotavestigeofajeweloradiamond。Yetitmustbetheduchess；butwhatwasaduchesswithoutdiamonds？—andinadresswhichfarmerHodson’sdaughtermighthaveworn！Wasittheduchess？Coulditbetheduchess？ThelittlecrowdofinquirersaroundMrsGibsonthickened，tohearherconfirmtheirdisappointingsurmise。AftertheduchesscameLadyCumnor，lookinglikeLadyMacbethinblackvelvet—aclouduponherbrow，mademoreconspicuousbythelinesofagerapidlygatheringonherhandsomeface；andLadyHarriet，andotherladies，amongstwhomtherewasonedressedsoliketheduchessastosuggesttheideaofasisterratherthanadaughter，asfarasdresswent。TherewasLordHollingford，plaininface，awkwardinperson，gentlemanlyinmanner；andhalf—a—dozenyoungermen，LordAlbertMonson，CaptainJames，andothersoftheirageandstanding，whocameinlookinganythingifnotcritical。Thislong—expectedpartysweptuptotheseatsreservedforthemattheheadoftheroom，apparentlyregardlessoftheinterruptiontheycaused；forthedancersstoodaside，andalmostdispersedbacktotheirseats，andwhen’Money—musk"struckupagain，nothalftheformersetofpeoplestooduptofinishthedance。LadyHarriet，whowasratherdifferenttoMissPiper，andnomoremindedcrossingtheroomalonethanifthelookers—onweresomanycabbages，spiedtheGibsonpartyprettyquicklyout，andcameacrosstothem。’Hereweareatlast。Howd’yedo，dear？Why，littleone’（toMolly），’howniceyou’relooking！Aren’tweshamefullylate？’’Oh！it’sonlyjustpasttwelve，’saidMrsGibson；’andIdaresayyoudinedverylate。’’Itwasnotthat；itwasthatill—manneredwoman，whowenttoherownroomafterwecameoutfromdinner，andsheandLadyAlicestayedthereinvisible，tillwethoughttheywereputtingonsomesplendidattire—astheyoughttohavedone—andathalf—pasttenwhenmammasentuptothemtosaythecarriageswereatthedoor，theduchesssentdownforsomebeef—tea，andatlastappearedà；l’enfantasyouseeher。Mammaissoangrywithher，andsomeoftheothersareannoyedatnotcomingearlier，andoneortwoaregivingthemselvesairsaboutcomingatall。Papaistheonlyonewhoisnotaffectedbyit。’ThenturningtoMollyLadyHarrietasked，—’Haveyoubeendancingmuch，MissGibson？’’Yes；noteverydance，butnearlyall。’Itwasasimplequestionenough；butLadyHarriet’sspeakingatalltoMollyhadbecometoMrsGibsonalmostlikeshakingaredragatabull；
　　itwastheonethingsuretoputheroutoftemper。ButshewouldnothaveshownthistoLadyHarrietfortheworld；onlyshecontrivedtobaffleanyendeavoursatfurtherconversationbetweenthetwo，byplacingherselfbetweenLadyHarrietandMolly，whomtheformeraskedtositdownintheabsentCynthia’sroom。’Iwon’tgobacktothosepeople，Iamsomadwiththem；and，besides，Ihardlysawyoutheotherday，andImusthavesomegossipwithyou。’
　　SoshesatdownbyMrsGibson，andasMrsGoodenoughafterwardsexpressedit，’lookedlikeanybodyelse。’MrsGoodenoughsaidthistoexcuseherselfforalittlemisadventureshefellinto。Shehadtakenadeliberatesurveyofthegrandeesattheupperendoftheroom，spectaclesonnose，andhadinquired，innoverymeasuredvoice，whoeverybodywas，fromMrSheepshanks，mylord’sagent，andherverygoodneighbour，whoinvaintriedtocheckherloudardourforinformationbyreplyingtoherinwhispers。Butshewasratherdeafaswellasblind，sohislowtonesonlybroughtuponhimfreshinquiries。Now，satisfiedasfarasshecouldbe，andonherwaytodeparture，andtheextinguishingoffireandcandlelight，shestoppedoppositetoMrsGibson，andthusaddressedherbywayofrenewaloftheirformersubjectofconversation，—’SuchashabbythingforaduchessIneversaw；notabitofadiamondnearher。They’renoneofthemworthlookingatexceptthecountess，andshe’salwaysapersonablewoman，andnotsolustyasshewas。Butthey’renotworthwaitingupfortillthistimeo’night。’Therewasamoment’spause。ThenLadyHarrietputherhandout，andsaid，—’Youdon’trememberme，butIknowyoufromhavingseenyouattheTowers。
　　LadyCumnorisagooddealthinnerthanshewas，butwehopeherhealthisbetterforit。’’It’sLadyHarriet，’saidMrsGibsontoMrsGoodenough，inreproachfuldismay。’Dearyme，yourladyship！IhopeI’vegivennooffence！But，yousee—
　　thatistosay，yourladyshipsees，thatit’slatehoursforsuchfolksasme，andIonlystayedoutofmybedtoseetheduchess，andIthoughtshe’dcomeindiamondsandacoronet；anditputsoneoutatmyage，tobedisappointedintheonlychanceI’mliketohaveofsofineasight。’’I’mputouttoo，’saidLadyHarriet。’Iwantedtohavecomeearly，andhereweareaslateasthis。I’msocrossandill—tempered，Ishouldbegladtohidemyselfinbedassoonasyouwilldo。’ShesaidthissosweetlythatMrsGoodenoughrelaxedintoasmile，andhercrabbednessintoacompliment。’Idon’tbelieveaseveryourladyshipcanbecrossandill—temperedwiththatprettyface。I’manoldwoman，soyoumustletmesayso。’LadyHarrietstoodup，andmadealowcurtsey。Thenholdingoutherhand，shesaid，—’Iwon’tkeepyouupanylonger；butI’llpromiseonethinginreturnforyourprettyspeech：ifeverIamaduchess，I’llcomeandshowmyselftoyouinallmyrobesandgewgaws。Good—night，madam！’’There！Iknewhowitwouldbe！’saidshe，notresumingherseat。’Andontheeveofacountyelectiontoo。’’Oh！youmustnottakeoldMrsGoodenoughasaspecimen，dearLadyHarriet。