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Chapter17

Aweekpassed,andnonewsarrivedofMr.Rochester:tendays,andstillhedidnotcome.Mrs.FairfaxsaidsheshouldnotbesurprisedifheweretogostraightfromtheLeastoLondon,andthencetotheContinent,andnotshowhisfaceagainatThornfieldforayeartocome;hehadnotunfrequentlyquitteditinamannerquiteasabruptandunexpected.WhenIheardthis,Iwasbeginningtofeelastrangechillandfailingattheheart.Iwasactuallypermittingmyselftoexperienceasickeningsenseofdisappointment;butrallyingmywits,andrecollectingmyprinciples,Iatoncecalledmysensationstoorder;anditwaswonderfulhowIgotoverthetemporaryblunder—howIclearedupthemistakeofsupposingMr.Rochester’smovementsamatterinwhichIhadanycausetotakeavitalinterest.NotthatIhumbledmyselfbyaslavishnotionofinferiority:onthecontrary,Ijustsaid-

“YouhavenothingtodowiththemasterofThornfield,furtherthantoreceivethesalaryhegivesyouforteachinghisprotegee,andtobegratefulforsuchrespectfulandkindtreatmentas,ifyoudoyourduty,youhavearighttoexpectathishands.Besurethatistheonlytieheseriouslyacknowledgesbetweenyouandhim;sodon’tmakehimtheobjectofyourfinefeelings,yourraptures,agonies,andsoforth.Heisnotofyourorder:keeptoyourcaste,andbetooself-respectingtolavishtheloveofthewholeheart,soul,andstrength,wheresuchagiftisnotwantedandwouldbedespised.”

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Iwentonwithmyday’sbusinesstranquilly;buteverandanonvaguesuggestionskeptwanderingacrossmybrainofreasonswhyIshouldquitThornfield;andIkeptinvoluntarilyframingadvertisementsandponderingconjecturesaboutnewsituations:thesethoughtsIdidnotthinktocheck;theymightgerminateandbearfruitiftheycould.

Mr.Rochesterhadbeenabsentupwardsofafortnight,whenthepostbroughtMrs.Fairfaxaletter.

“Itisfromthemaster,”saidshe,asshelookedatthedirection.“NowIsupposeweshallknowwhetherwearetoexpecthisreturnornot.”

Andwhileshebrokethesealandperusedthedocument,Iwentontakingmycoffee(wewereatbreakfast):itwashot,andIattributedtothatcircumstanceafieryglowwhichsuddenlyrosetomyface.Whymyhandshook,andwhyIinvoluntarilyspilthalfthecontentsofmycupintomysaucer,Ididnotchoosetoconsider.

“Well,Isometimesthinkwearetooquiet;butwerunachanceofbeingbusyenoughnow:foralittlewhileatleast,”saidMrs.Fairfax,stillholdingthenotebeforeherspectacles.

EreIpermittedmyselftorequestanexplanation,ItiedthestringofAdele’spinafore,whichhappenedtobeloose:havinghelpedheralsotoanotherbunandrefilledhermugwithmilk,Isaid,nonchalantly-

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“Mr.Rochesterisnotlikelytoreturnsoon,Isuppose?”

“Indeedheis—inthreedays,hesays:thatwillbenextThursday;andnotaloneeither.Idon’tknowhowmanyofthefinepeopleattheLeasarecomingwithhim:hesendsdirectionsforallthebestbedroomstobeprepared;andthelibraryanddrawing-roomsaretobecleanedout;IamtogetmorekitchenhandsfromtheGeorgeInn,atMillcote,andfromwhereverelseIcan;andtheladieswillbringtheirmaidsandthegentlementheirvalets:soweshallhaveafullhouseofit.”AndMrs.Fairfaxswallowedherbreakfastandhastenedawaytocommenceoperations.

Thethreedayswere,asshehadforetold,busyenough.IhadthoughtalltheroomsatThornfieldbeautifullycleanandwellarranged;butitappearsIwasmistaken.Threewomenweregottohelp;andsuchscrubbing,suchbrushing,suchwashingofpaintandbeatingofcarpets,suchtakingdownandputtingupofpictures,suchpolishingofmirrorsandlustres,suchlightingoffiresinbedrooms,suchairingofsheetsandfeather-bedsonhearths,Ineverbeheld,eitherbeforeorsince.Adeleranquitewildinthemidstofit:thepreparationsforcompanyandtheprospectoftheirarrival,seemedtothrowherintoecstasies.ShewouldhaveSophietolookoverallher“toilettes,”asshecalledfrocks;tofurbishupanythatwere“passees,”andtoairandarrangethenew.Forherself,shedidnothingbutcaperaboutinthefrontchambers,jumponandoffthebedsteads,andlieonthemattressesandpiled-upbolstersandpillowsbeforetheenormousfiresroaring

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inthechimneys.Fromschooldutiesshewasexonerated:Mrs.Fairfaxhadpressedmeintoherservice,andIwasalldayinthestoreroom,helping(orhindering)herandthecook;learningtomakecustardsandcheese-cakesandFrenchpastry,totrussgameandgarnishdesert-dishes.

ThepartywereexpectedtoarriveonThursdayafternoon,intimefordinneratsix.DuringtheinterveningperiodIhadnotimetonursechimeras;andIbelieveIwasasactiveandgayasanybody—Adeleexcepted.Still,nowandthen,Ireceivedadampingchecktomycheerfulness;andwas,inspiteofmyself,thrownbackontheregionofdoubtsandportents,anddarkconjectures.ThiswaswhenIchancedtoseethethird-storeystaircasedoor(whichoflatehadalwaysbeenkeptlocked)openslowly,andgivepassagetotheformofGracePoole,inprimcap,whiteapron,andhandkerchief;whenIwatchedherglidealongthegallery,herquiettreadmuffledinalistslipper;whenIsawherlookintothebustling,topsy-turvybedrooms,—justsayaword,perhaps,tothecharwomanabouttheproperwaytopolishagrate,orcleanamarblemantelpiece,ortakestainsfrompaperedwalls,andthenpasson.Shewouldthusdescendtothekitchenonceaday,eatherdinner,smokeamoderatepipeonthehearth,andgoback,carryingherpotofporterwithher,forherprivatesolace,inherowngloomy,upperhaunt.Onlyonehourinthetwenty-fourdidshepasswithherfellow-servantsbelow;alltherestofhertimewasspentinsomelow-ceiled,oaken

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chamberofthesecondstorey:thereshesatandsewed—andprobablylaugheddrearilytoherself,—ascompanionlessasaprisonerinhisdungeon.Thestrangestthingofallwas,thatnotasoulinthehouse,exceptme,noticedherhabits,orseemedto

marvelatthem:noonediscussedherpositionoremployment;noonepitiedhersolitudeorisolation.Ionce,indeed,overheardpartofadialoguebetweenLeahandoneofthecharwomen,ofwhichGraceformedthesubject.LeahhadbeensayingsomethingIhadnotcaught,andthecharwomanremarked-“Shegetsgoodwages,Iguess?”“Yes,”saidLeah;“IwishIhadasgood;notthatminearetocomplainof,—there’snostinginessatThornfield;butthey’renotonefifthofthesumMrs.Poolereceives.Andsheislayingby:shegoeseveryquartertothebankatMillcote.Ishouldnotwonderbutshehassavedenoughtokeepherindependentifshelikedtoleave;butIsupposeshe’sgotusedtotheplace;andthenshe’snotfortyyet,andstrongandableforanything.Itistoosoonforhertogiveupbusiness.”“Sheisagoodhand,Idaresay,”saidthecharwoman.“Ah!—sheunderstandswhatshehastodo,—nobodybetter,”rejoinedLeahsignificantly;“anditisnoteveryonecouldfillhershoes—notforallthemoneyshegets.”

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“Thatitisnot!”wasthereply.“Iwonderwhetherthemaster—“

Thecharwomanwasgoingon;buthereLeahturnedandperceivedme,andsheinstantlygavehercompanionanudge.

“Doesn’tsheknow?”Iheardthewomanwhisper.

Leahshookherhead,andtheconversationwasofcoursedropped.AllIhadgatheredfromitamountedtothis,—thattherewasamysteryatThornfield;andthatfromparticipationinthatmysteryIwaspurposelyexcluded.

Thursdaycame:allworkhadbeencompletedthepreviousevening;carpetswerelaiddown,bed-hangingsfestooned,radiantwhitecounterpanesspread,toilettablesarranged,furniturerubbed,flowerspiledinvases:bothchambersandsaloonslookedasfreshandbrightashandscouldmakethem.Thehall,too,wasscoured;andthegreatcarvedclock,aswellasthestepsandbanistersofthestaircase,werepolishedtothebrightnessofglass;inthedining-room,thesideboardflashedresplendentwithplate;inthedrawing-roomandboudoir,vasesofexoticsbloomedonallsides.

Afternoonarrived:Mrs.Fairfaxassumedherbestblacksatingown,hergloves,andhergoldwatch;foritwasherparttoreceivethecompany,—toconducttheladiestotheirrooms,&c.Adele,too,wouldbedressed:thoughIthoughtshehadlittlechanceofbeingintroducedtothepartythatdayatleast.However,to

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pleaseher,IallowedSophietoapparelherinoneofhershort,fullmuslinfrocks.Formyself,Ihadnoneedtomakeanychange;Ishouldnotbecalledupontoquitmysanctumoftheschoolroom;forasanctumitwasnowbecometome,—“averypleasantrefugeintimeoftrouble.”

Ithadbeenamild,serenespringday—oneofthosedayswhich,towardstheendofMarchorthebeginningofApril,riseshiningovertheearthasheraldsofsummer.Itwasdrawingtoanendnow;buttheeveningwasevenwarm,andIsatatworkintheschoolroomwiththewindowopen.

“Itgetslate,”saidMrs.Fairfax,enteringinrustlingstate.“IamgladIordereddinneranhourafterthetimeMr.Rochestermentioned;foritispastsixnow.IhavesentJohndowntothegatestoseeifthereisanythingontheroad:onecanseealongwayfromthenceinthedirectionofMillcote.”Shewenttothewindow.“Hereheis!”saidshe.“Well,John”(leaningout),“anynews?”

“They’recoming,ma’am,”wastheanswer.“They’llbehereintenminutes.”

Adeleflewtothewindow.Ifollowed,takingcaretostandononeside,sothat,screenedbythecurtain,Icouldseewithoutbeingseen.

ThetenminutesJohnhadgivenseemedverylong,butatlastwheelswereheard;fourequestriansgallopedupthedrive,andafterthemcametwoopencarriages.

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Flutteringveilsandwavingplumesfilledthevehicles;twoofthecavalierswereyoung,dashing-lookinggentlemen;thethirdwasMr.Rochester,onhisblackhorse,Mesrour,Pilotboundingbeforehim;athissiderodealady,andheandshewerethefirstoftheparty.Herpurpleriding-habitalmostswepttheground,herveilstreamedlongonthebreeze;minglingwithitstransparentfolds,andgleamingthroughthem,shonerichravenringlets.

“MissIngram!”exclaimedMrs.Fairfax,andawayshehurriedtoherpostbelow.

Thecavalcade,followingthesweepofthedrive,quicklyturnedtheangleofthehouse,andIlostsightofit.Adelenowpetitionedtogodown;butItookheronmyknee,andgavehertounderstandthatshemustnotonanyaccountthinkofventuringinsightoftheladies,eithernoworatanyothertime,unlessexpresslysentfor:thatMr.Rochesterwouldbeveryangry,&c.“Somenaturaltearssheshed”onbeingtoldthis;butasIbegantolookverygrave,sheconsentedatlasttowipethem.

Ajoyousstirwasnowaudibleinthehall:gentlemen’sdeeptonesandladies’silveryaccentsblentharmoniouslytogether,anddistinguishableaboveall,thoughnotloud,wasthesonorousvoiceofthemasterofThornfieldHall,welcominghisfairandgallantguestsunderitsroof.Thenlightstepsascendedthestairs;andtherewasatrippingthroughthegallery,and

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softcheerfullaughs,andopeningandclosingdoors,and,foratime,ahush.

“Elleschangentdetoilettes,”saidAdele;who,listeningattentively,hadfollowedeverymovement;andshesighed.

“Chezmaman,”saidshe,“quandilyavaitdumonde,jelesuivaispartout,ausaloneteleurschambres;souventjeregardaislesfemmesdechambrecoifferethabillerlesdames,etc’etaitsiamusant:commecelaonapprend.”

“Don’tyoufeelhungry,Adele?”

“Maisoui,mademoiselle:voilecinqousixheuresquenousn’avonspasmange.”

“Wellnow,whiletheladiesareintheirrooms,Iwillventuredownandgetyousomethingtoeat.”

Andissuingfrommyasylumwithprecaution,Isoughtaback-stairswhichconducteddirectlytothekitchen.Allinthatregionwasfireandcommotion;thesoupandfishwereinthelaststageofprojection,andthecookhungoverhercruciblesinaframeofmindandbodythreateningspontaneouscombustion.Intheservants’halltwocoachmenandthreegentlemen’sgentlemenstoodorsatroundthefire;theabigails,Isuppose,wereupstairswiththeirmistresses;thenewservants,thathadbeenhiredfromMillcote,werebustlingabouteverywhere.Threadingthischaos,Iatlastreachedthelarder;thereItookpossessionofacold

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chicken,arollofbread,sometarts,aplateortwoandaknifeandfork:withthisbootyImadeahastyretreat.Ihadregainedthegallery,andwasjustshuttingtheback-doorbehindme,whenanacceleratedhumwarnedmethattheladieswereabouttoissuefromtheirchambers.Icouldnotproceedtotheschoolroomwithoutpassingsomeoftheirdoors,andrunningtheriskofbeingsurprisedwithmycargoofvictualage;soIstoodstillatthisend,which,beingwindowless,wasdark:quitedarknow,forthesunwassetandtwilightgathering.

Presentlythechambersgaveuptheirfairtenantsoneafteranother:eachcameoutgailyandairily,withdressthatgleamedlustrousthroughthedusk.Foramomenttheystoodgroupedtogetherattheotherextremityofthegallery,conversinginakeyofsweetsubduedvivacity:theythendescendedthestaircasealmostasnoiselesslyasabrightmistrollsdownahill.Theircollectiveappearancehadleftonmeanimpressionofhigh-bornelegance,suchasIhadneverbeforereceived.

IfoundAdelepeepingthroughtheschoolroomdoor,whichsheheldajar.“Whatbeautifulladies!”criedsheinEnglish.“Oh,IwishImightgotothem!DoyouthinkMr.Rochesterwillsendforusby-and-bye,afterdinner?”

“No,indeed,Idon’t;Mr.Rochesterhassomethingelsetothinkabout.Nevermindtheladiesto-night;perhapsyouwillseethemto-morrow:hereisyourdinner.”

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Shewasreallyhungry,sothechickenandtartsservedtodivertherattentionforatime.ItwaswellIsecuredthisforage,orbothshe,I,andSophie,towhomIconveyedashareofourrepast,wouldhaverunachanceofgettingnodinneratall:everyonedownstairswastoomuchengagedtothinkofus.Thedessertwasnotcarriedouttillafternineandattenfootmenwerestillrunningtoandfrowithtraysandcoffee-cups.IallowedAdeletositupmuchlaterthanusual;forshedeclaredshecouldnotpossiblygotosleepwhilethedoorskeptopeningandshuttingbelow,andpeoplebustlingabout.Besides,sheadded,amessagemightpossiblycomefromMr.Rochesterwhenshewasundressed;“etalorsqueldommage!”

Itoldherstoriesaslongasshewouldlistentothem;andthenforachangeItookheroutintothegallery.Thehalllampwasnowlit,anditamusedhertolookoverthebalustradeandwatchtheservantspassingbackwardsandforwards.Whentheeveningwasfaradvanced,asoundofmusicissuedfromthedrawing-room,whitherthepianohadbeenremoved;AdeleandIsatdownonthetopstepofthestairstolisten.Presentlyavoiceblentwiththerichtonesoftheinstrument;itwasaladywhosang,andverysweethernoteswere.Thesoloover,aduetfollowed,andthenaglee:ajoyousconversationalmurmurfilleduptheintervals.Ilistenedlong:suddenlyIdiscoveredthatmyearwaswhollyintentonanalysingthemingledsounds,andtryingtodiscriminateamidsttheconfusionofaccentsthoseofMr.Rochester;andwhenitcaught

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them,whichitsoondid,itfoundafurthertaskinframingthetones,renderedbydistanceinarticulate,intowords.

Theclockstruckeleven.IlookedatAdele,whoseheadleantagainstmyshoulder;hereyeswerewaxingheavy,soItookherupinmyarmsandcarriedherofftobed.Itwasnearonebeforethegentlemenandladiessoughttheirchambers.

Thenextdaywasasfineasitspredecessor:itwasdevotedbythepartytoanexcursiontosomesiteintheneighbourhood.Theysetoutearlyintheforenoon,someonhorseback,therestincarriages;Iwitnessedboththedepartureandthereturn.MissIngram,asbefore,wastheonlyladyequestrian;and,asbefore,Mr.Rochestergallopedatherside;thetworodealittleapartfromtherest.IpointedoutthiscircumstancetoMrs.Fairfax,whowasstandingatthewindowwithme

-

“Yousaiditwasnotlikelytheyshouldthinkofbeingmarried,”saidI,“butyouseeMr.Rochesterevidently

prefershertoanyoftheotherladies.”

“Yes,Idaresay:nodoubtheadmiresher.”

“Andshehim,”Iadded;“lookhowsheleansherheadtowardshimasifshewereconversingconfidentially;IwishIcouldseeherface;Ihaveneverhadaglimpseofityet.”

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“Youwillseeherthisevening,”answeredMrs.Fairfax.“IhappenedtoremarktoMr.RochesterhowmuchAdelewishedtobeintroducedtotheladies,andhesaid:‘Oh!lethercomeintothedrawing-roomafterdinner;andrequestMissEyretoaccompanyher.’”

“Yes;hesaidthatfrommerepoliteness:Ineednotgo,Iamsure,”Ianswered.

“Well,Iobservedtohimthatasyouwereunusedtocompany,Ididnotthinkyouwouldlikeappearingbeforesogayaparty—allstrangers;andhereplied,inhisquickway—‘Nonsense!Ifsheobjects,tellheritismyparticularwish;andifsheresists,sayIshallcomeandfetchherincaseofcontumacy.’”

“Iwillnotgivehimthattrouble,”Ianswered.“Iwillgo,ifnobettermaybe;butIdon’tlikeit.Shallyoubethere,Mrs.Fairfax?”

“No;Ipleadedoff,andheadmittedmyplea.I’lltellyouhowtomanagesoastoavoidtheembarrassmentofmakingaformalentrance,whichisthemostdisagreeablepartofthebusiness.Youmustgointothedrawing-roomwhileitisempty,beforetheladiesleavethedinner-table;chooseyourseatinanyquietnookyoulike;youneednotstaylongafterthegentlemencomein,unlessyouplease:justletMr.Rochesterseeyouarethereandthenslipaway—nobodywillnoticeyou.”

“Willthesepeopleremainlong,doyouthink?”

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“Perhapstwoorthreeweeks,certainlynotmore.AftertheEasterrecess,SirGeorgeLynn,whowaslatelyelectedmemberforMillcote,willhavetogouptotownandtakehisseat;IdaresayMr.Rochesterwillaccompanyhim:itsurprisesmethathehasalreadymadesoprotractedastayatThornfield.”

ItwaswithsometrepidationthatIperceivedthehourapproachwhenIwastorepairwithmychargetothedrawing-room.Adelehadbeeninastateofecstasyallday,afterhearingshewastobepresentedtotheladiesintheevening;anditwasnottillSophiecommencedtheoperationofdressingherthatshesobereddown.Thentheimportanceoftheprocessquicklysteadiedher,andbythetimeshehadhercurlsarrangedinwell-smoothed,droopingclusters,herpinksatinfrockputon,herlongsashtied,andherlacemittensadjusted,shelookedasgraveasanyjudge.Noneedtowarnhernottodisarrangeherattire:whenshewasdressed,shesatdemurelydowninherlittlechair,takingcarepreviouslytoliftupthesatinskirtforfearsheshouldcreaseit,andassuredmeshewouldnotstirthencetillIwasready.ThisIquicklywas:mybestdress(thesilver-greyone,purchasedforMissTemple’swedding,andneverwornsince)wassoonputon;myhairwassoonsmoothed;mysoleornament,thepearlbrooch,soonassumed.Wedescended.

Fortunatelytherewasanotherentrancetothedrawing-roomthanthatthroughthesaloonwheretheywereallseatedatdinner.Wefoundtheapartmentvacant;alargefireburningsilentlyonthemarblehearth,and

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waxcandlesshininginbrightsolitude,amidtheexquisiteflowerswithwhichthetableswereadorned.Thecrimsoncurtainhungbeforethearch:slightaswastheseparationthisdraperyformedfromthepartyintheadjoiningsaloon,theyspokeinsolowakeythatnothingoftheirconversationcouldbedistinguishedbeyondasoothingmurmur.

Adele,whoappearedtobestillundertheinfluenceofamostsolemnisingimpression,satdown,withoutaword,onthefootstoolIpointedouttoher.Iretiredtoawindow-seat,andtakingabookfromatablenear,endeavouredtoread.Adelebroughtherstooltomy

feet;erelongshetouchedmyknee.

“Whatisit,Adele?”

“Est-cequejenepuispasprendrieuneseuledecesfleursmagnifiques,mademoiselle?Seulementpourcompletermatoilette.”

“Youthinktoomuchofyour‘toilette,’Adele:butyoumayhaveaflower.”AndItookarosefromavaseandfasteneditinhersash.Shesighedasighofineffablesatisfaction,asifhercupofhappinesswerenowfull.IturnedmyfaceawaytoconcealasmileIcouldnotsuppress:therewassomethingludicrousaswellaspainfulinthelittleParisienne’searnestandinnatedevotiontomattersofdress.

Asoftsoundofrisingnowbecameaudible;thecurtainwassweptbackfromthearch;throughitappearedthedining-room,withitslitlustrepouringdownlighton

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thesilverandglassofamagnificentdessert-servicecoveringalongtable;abandofladiesstoodintheopening;theyentered,andthecurtainfellbehindthem.

Therewerebuteight;yet,somehow,astheyflockedin,theygavetheimpressionofamuchlargernumber.Someofthemwereverytall;manyweredressedinwhite;andallhadasweepingamplitudeofarraythatseemedtomagnifytheirpersonsasamistmagnifiesthemoon.Iroseandcurtseyedtothem:oneortwobenttheirheadsinreturn,theothersonlystaredatme.

Theydispersedabouttheroom,remindingme,bythelightnessandbuoyancyoftheirmovements,ofaflockofwhiteplumybirds.Someofthemthrewthemselvesinhalf-recliningpositionsonthesofasandottomans:somebentoverthetablesandexaminedtheflowersandbooks:therestgatheredinagrouproundthefire:alltalkedinalowbutcleartonewhichseemedhabitualtothem.Iknewtheirnamesafterwards,andmayaswellmentionthemnow.

First,therewasMrs.Eshtonandtwoofherdaughters.Shehadevidentlybeenahandsomewoman,andwaswellpreservedstill.Ofherdaughters,theeldest,Amy,wasratherlittle:naive,andchild-likeinfaceandmanner,andpiquantinform;herwhitemuslindressandbluesashbecameherwell.Thesecond,Louisa,wastallerandmoreelegantinfigure;withaveryprettyface,ofthatordertheFrenchtermminoischiffone:bothsisterswerefairaslilies.

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LadyLynnwasalargeandstoutpersonageofaboutforty,veryerect,veryhaughty-looking,richlydressedinasatinrobeofchangefulsheen:herdarkhairshoneglossilyundertheshadeofanazureplume,andwithinthecircletofabandofgems.

Mrs.ColonelDentwaslessshowy;but,Ithought,morelady-like.Shehadaslightfigure,apale,gentleface,andfairhair.Herblacksatindress,herscarfofrichforeignlace,andherpearlornaments,pleasedmebetterthantherainbowradianceofthetitleddame.

Butthethreemostdistinguished—partly,perhaps,becausethetallestfiguresoftheband—weretheDowagerLadyIngramandherdaughters,BlancheandMary.Theywereallthreeoftheloftieststatureofwomen.TheDowagermightbebetweenfortyandfifty:hershapewasstillfine;herhair(bycandle-lightatleast)stillblack;herteeth,too,werestillapparentlyperfect.Mostpeoplewouldhavetermedherasplendidwomanofherage:andsoshewas,nodoubt,physicallyspeaking;butthentherewasanexpressionofalmostinsupportablehaughtinessinherbearingandcountenance.