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A Lady of Quality | Frances Hodgson Burnett | |
Relating how Mistress Anne discovered a miniature |
Page 5 of 8 |
Suddenly she crossed the room to where her sister stood drooping, and seized her by the shoulder, so that she could look her well in the face. "What," she said, with a mocking not quite harsh--"What is this? Does a glance at a fine gallant, even taken from behind an oriel window, make such change indeed? I never before saw this look, nor this colour, forsooth; it hath improved thee wondrously, Anne-- wondrously." "Sister," faltered Anne, "I so desired to see your birth-night ballgown, of which Mistress Margery hath much spoken--I so desired--I thought it would not matter if, the door being open and it spread forth upon the bed--I--I stole a look at it. And then I was tempted--and came in." "And then was tempted more," Clorinda laughed, still regarding her downcast countenance shrewdly, "by a thing far less to be resisted-- a fine gentleman from town, with love-locks falling on his shoulders and ladies' hearts strung at his saddle-bow by scores. Which found you the most beautiful?" "Your gown is splendid, sister," said Anne, with modest shyness. "There will be no beauty who will wear another like it; or should there be one, she will not carry it as you will." "But the man--the man, Anne," Clorinda laughed again. "What of the man?" Anne plucked up just enough of her poor spirit to raise her eyes to the brilliant ones that mocked at her. "With such gentlemen, sister," she said, "is it like that I have aught to do?" Mistress Clorinda dropped her hand and left laughing. "'Tis true," she said, "it is not; but for this one time, Anne, thou lookest almost a woman." |
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A Lady of Quality Frances Hodgson Burnett |
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