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it's no use dressing when there's no one to see you； and I want to have a
little discourse。'
The drawing…room was certainly an imposing apartment； and very
elegantly furnished； but I saw its young mistress glance towards me as we
entered； as if to notice how I was impressed by the spectacle； and
accordingly I determined to preserve an aspect of stony indifference； as if
I saw nothing at all remarkable。 But this was only for a moment：
immediately conscience whispered； 'Why should I disappoint her to save
my pride？ No … rather let me sacrifice my pride to give her a little
innocent gratification。' And I honestly looked round； and told her it was a
noble room； and very tastefully furnished。 She said little； but I saw she
was pleased。
She showed me her fat French poodle； that lay curled up on a silk
cushion； and the two fine Italian paintings： which； however； she would
not give me time to examine； but； saying I must look at them some other
day； insisted upon my admiring the little jewelled watch she had purchased
in Geneva； and then she took me round the room to point out sundry
articles of VERTU she had brought from Italy： an elegant little timepiece；
and several busts； small graceful figures； and vases； all beautifully carved
in white marble。 She spoke of these with animation； and heard my
admiring comments with a smile of pleasure： that soon； however；
vanished； and was followed by a melancholy sigh； as if in consideration of
the insufficiency of all such baubles to the happiness of the human heart；
and their woeful inability to supply its insatiate demands。
Then； stretching herself upon a couch； she motioned me to a capacious
easy…chair that stood opposite … not before the fire； but before a wide open
window； for it was summer； be it remembered； a sweet； warm evening in
the latter half of June。 I sat for a moment in silence； enjoying the still；
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pure air； and the delightful prospect of the park that lay before me； rich in
verdure and foliage； and basking in yellow sunshine； relieved by the long
shadows of declining day。 But I must take advantage of this pause： I had
inquiries to make； and； like the substance of a lady's postscript； the most
important must come last。 So I began with asking after Mr。 and Mrs。
Murray； and Miss Matilda and the young gentlemen。
I was told that papa had the gout； which made him very ferocious； and
that he would not give up his choice wines； and his substantial dinners and
suppers； and had quarrelled with his physician； because the latter had
dared to say that no medicine could cure him while he lived so freely； that
mamma and the rest were well。 Matilda was still wild and reckless； but
she had got a fashionable governess； and was considerably improved in
her manners； and soon to be introduced to the world； and John and Charles
（now at home for the holidays） were； by all accounts； 'fine； bold； unruly；
mischievous boys。'
'And how are the other people getting on？' said I … 'the Greens； for
instance？'
'Ah！ Mr。 Green is heart…broken； you know；' replied she； with a languid
smile： 'he hasn't got over his disappointment yet； and never will； I
suppose。 He's doomed to be an old bachelor； and his sisters are doing
their best to get married。'
'And the Melthams？'
'Oh； they're jogging on as usual； I suppose： but I know very little
about any of them … except Harry；' said she； blushing slightly； and smiling
again。 'I saw a great deal of him while we were in London； for； as soon
as he heard we were there； he came up under pretence of visiting his
brother； and either followed me； like a shadow； wherever I went； or met
me； like a reflection； at every turn。 You needn't look so shocked； Miss
Grey； I was very discreet； I assure you； but； you know； one can't help
being admired。 Poor fellow！ He was not my only worshipper； though
he was certainly the most conspicuous； and； I think； the most devoted
among them all。 And that detestable … ahem … and Sir Thomas chose to
take offence at him … or my profuse expenditure； or something … I don't
exactly know what … and hurried me down to the country at a moment's
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notice； where I'm to play the hermit； I suppose； for life。'
And she bit her lip； and frowned vindictively upon the fair domain she
had once so coveted to call her own。
'And Mr。 Hatfield；' said I； 'what is become of him？'
Again she brightened up； and answered gaily … 'Oh！ he made up to an
elderly spinster； and married her； not long since； weighing her heavy purse
against her faded charms； and expecting to find that solace in gold which
was denied him in love … ha； ha！'
'Well； and I think that's all … except Mr。 Weston： what is he doing？'
'I don't know； I'm sure。 He's gone from Horton。'
'How long since？ and where is he gone to？'
'I know nothing about him；' replied she； yawning … 'except that he went
about a month ago … I never asked where' （I would have asked whether it
was to a living or merely another curacy； but thought it better not）； 'and the
people made a great rout about his leaving；' continued she； 'much to Mr。
Hatfield's displeasure； for Hatfield didn't like him； because he had too
much influence with the common people； and because he was not
sufficiently tractable and submissive to him … and for some other
unpardonable sins； I don't know what。 But now I positively must go and
dress： the second bell will ring directly； and if I come to dinner in this
guise； I shall never hear the end of it from Lady Ashby。 It's a strange
thing one can't be mistress in one's own house！ Just ring the bell； and I'll
send for my maid； and tell them to get you some tea。 Only think of that
intolerable woman … '
'Who … your maid？'
'No； … my mother…in…law … and my unfortunate mistake！ Instead of
letting her take herself off to some other house； as she offered to do when I
married； I was fool enough to ask her to live here still； and direct the
affairs of the house for me； because； in the first place； I hoped we should
spend the greater part of the year； in town； and in the second place； being
so young and inexperienced； I was frightened at the idea of having a
houseful of servants to manage； and dinners to order； and parties to
entertain； and all the rest of it； and I thought she might assist me with her
experience； never dreaming she would prove a usurper； a tyrant； an
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incubus； a spy； and everything else that's detestable。 I wish she was
dead！'
She then turned to give her orders to the footman； who had been
standing bolt upright within the door for the last half minute； and had
heard the latter part of her animadversions； and； of course； made his own
reflections upon them； notwithstanding the inflexible； wooden
countenance he thought proper to preserve in the drawing… room。 On my
remarking afterwards that he must have heard her； she replied … 'Oh； no
matter！ I never care about the footmen； they're mere automatons： it's
nothing to them what their superiors say or do； they won't dare to repeat it；
and as to what they think … if they presume to think at all … of course；
nobody cares for that。 It would be a pretty thing indeed； it we were to be
tongue…tied by our servants！'
So saying； she ran off to make her hasty toilet； leaving me to pilot my
way back to my sitting…room； where； in due time； I was served with a cup
of tea。 After that； I sat musing on Lady A