Puslapio vaizdai
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"as catching your attention for one "moment this evening. How came

your aufterity to condefcend to visit "these tinfel amufements ?"

"Pardon me, madam," said Edward, bowing refpectfully to lady Arabella; "thofe amusements cannot be tinfel "which have the power of attracting ❝fterling merit." Her ladyship did not deign to take the leaft notice of his fubmiffion, but continued whispering the countess: "So you have one con"ftant cecibeo I fee, and Monteith stays "at home. Very fingular, I vow. But "was you not afraid of taking cold during this long converfation ?"

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"No," replied Geraldine with recovered compofure; "our converfa"tion was too interefting for me to "think of cold. What if I fhould tell "you, Arabella, that fome part of it "related to yourself? But you really

" treat

"treat your faithful fwain's advances in "too contemptuous a ftyle for me to

begin my requested interceffion, or " even to deliver to you a meffage "from your brother on the fame sub"ject.”

The party had now re-entered the houfe, when the countefs, turning, faid to Fitzosborne," You forget Miss Par"ker."-" Where is Mifs Parker ?" was the general inquiry. "In the

orangery," said lady Monteith. "No, C: madam, I am here," echoed a fhrill voice, which iffued from one of the ladies who accompanied lady Arabella.

"Mifs Parker could not have been " left in the orangery," obferved the viscountess. "Your ladyship was cer

"tainly mistaken.

"ftairs with us."

She came down

"And

"And fhe was the first who fupport"ed me when I fainted," faid lady Arabella, who in her eagernefs to detect a supposed criminal, forgot that fainting people do not always know what paffes.

"She certainly accompanied me into "the orangery," repeated lady Monteith.

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Mifs Parker, who was no other than the antiquated belle" at the opera, now came forward, and with a respectful curtefy, begged leave to explain : "I certainly accompanied your lady

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ship and Mr. Fitzosborne down stairs,

"when you did me the honour to afk "me; but while your ladyfhip was en"gaged with him in looking at the "stars, I found it was very cold, and I "was afraid of my old attack in my "fhoulder; fo I thought I would step "and fetch my pellice; and I believe

"your

"your lady fhip and the gentleman were "too much occupied to perceive that I " was gone."

A farcastic smile, which lady Fillagree's politeness could fcarcely restrain her from joining, followed this narrative, when Edward, like Joseph Surface, promised to give a full and satisfactory account of the matter. He faid that on his mentioning that he had obferved a beautiful Jacobea lily in full blow as they entered, lady Monteith and Mifs Parker had expreffed a wish to pay it more attention; that he had the honour to escort them; and that, after admiring the flower, her ladyfhip was fuddenly ftruck by the fplendor of fome particular conftellations, when lady Arabella entered.

Another general fmile enfued, and Geraldine, no longer able to rally her fpirits,

fpi. its, ordered her chariot; and, telling Mifs Parker fhe would fet her down at her own door, fhe relieved the ladies from the pain of fuppreffed merriment, by taking leave.

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