Puslapio vaizdai
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alive. All who faw, by repeating what they had seen, excited the attention of others. Mutes were ftanding all the way up the stairs; all the state apartments were hung with black; tapers as big as men; plumes of feathers as large as those of Otranto, and efcutcheons and atchievements, were placed at every corner. Several of the lady-vifitants, after having seen all these aftonishing things, pleaded the rights of friendship, and entreated that their strong defire of combating lady Madelina's extreme grief might wave the rules of etiquette, and after a little reluctance they were admitted into her apartment. She generally fainted upon receiving company, though fometimes, if fhe found herself exhausted, the only exhibited a flood of tears, and called upon the dear fhade of her lamented lord. They generally reasoned her into a state of calmness

and

and refignation; and fometimes, if the vifitants were Frazers and only the wives or daughters of younger brothers, they fat down to a confolatory pool at quadrille. But even here her ladyship's fentimental tenderness was visible; for she could only be brought to play at that game from a recollection, "that poor dear fir Simon, when he was

"

quite himself, was remarkably partial "to holding a lone hand."

It was at such a time, and when lady Madelina was engaged with such a party, that lady Arabella, forgetting her uncle's death and her aunt's melancholy, rushed into the room, health on her cheek, joy in her eye, and the Monteith packet in her hand, calling out rather too loudly, "My brother is married to a "Mifs Powerscourt, and has asked me "to come to London." The affecting word married flung poor lady Madelina

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delina into hysterics, to which indeed the fudden entrance and loud exclamation had previously contributed. On her recovery another fource of anxiety was started. Who were the Powerfcourts? What alliances had they formed? Had any body ever heard of the family before? Luckily, a very skilful genealogift was prefent, whose information entirely obviated all anxiety upon the score of degradation; and her ladyfhip became tolerably compofed. It was now declared to be the univerfal opinion, that she had indulged her melancholy quite long enough; that nothing was fo good for bad fpirits as a journey; and that it would be quite kind and condescending in her to pay a visit to the young couple. Her lady. fhip for fome time ftrongly refifted the propofal; protested that her intentions were foon to follow fir Simon, whose

ghoft

ghoft she was fure ftill waited for her, and to die upon the very spot which contained his facred remains. It seemed to be doubtful to the lady comforters, whether fir Simon had not had enough of his lady's company, for they denied the fact about the ghoft; and at last con vinced her, that it was exceedingly wicked in a perfon of her age to talk of dying. After much diffuse argument, it was agreed that the interment fhould take place a fortnight fooner than was intended; and that when the efcutcheons and achievements had been properly arranged, lady Madelina and her niece fhould prepare for their London journey. The latter clofed the converfation by obferving, that thefe were the only agreeable founds she had heard fince her arrival in Scotland.

While lady Arabella fpeeded the joyous preparation, and indulged all the hopes

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hopes of future pleafures and triumphs which youthful confidence, aided by her early recollection, could fupply, lady Monteith took leave of Powerscourt with far different fentiments. The one,

averting her eyes from the detefted walls of Kinloch with an ardent with never more to behold what he called a burying place for the living, could only be interested by fubjects remotely connected with dear, dear London: the latter visited every spot which the amusements of her youth had endeared, and took leave of every acquaintance, dcmeftic, and friend, with the foft regret of remembered kindness. Next to thofe fentiments which her ever-revered and beloved father excited, her feparation from the Evans's called forth the mot lively emotions. It was at firft her intertion to have requested that Lucy might accompany her to town; but, had

not

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