An American girl in London . aid of—only that nothing ever terrified Lady Tor-quilin, which made it less comfortable still. Oh, Lord Maffer-ton, said she—I hadnt recognised him in my nervousness andhis gold lace— How many curtseys are there to make ? Nine, dear lady, replied this peer, with evident enjoyment. Its the most brilliant Drawing-Koom of the season. EveryRoyalty who could possibly attend is here. Nine, at theleast! Lady Torquilins reply utterly terrified me. It was confi-dential, and delivered in an undertone, but it was full of severemeaning. Im full of rheumatism, said she, and I s
An American girl in London . aid of—only that nothing ever terrified Lady Tor-quilin, which made it less comfortable still. Oh, Lord Maffer-ton, said she—I hadnt recognised him in my nervousness andhis gold lace— How many curtseys are there to make ? Nine, dear lady, replied this peer, with evident enjoyment. Its the most brilliant Drawing-Koom of the season. EveryRoyalty who could possibly attend is here. Nine, at theleast! Lady Torquilins reply utterly terrified me. It was confi-dential, and delivered in an undertone, but it was full of severemeaning. Im full of rheumatism, said she, and I shant4o it. The question as to what Lady Torquilin would do, if notwhat was required of her, rose vividly before me, and kept mecompany at every step of that interminable round. Am I allright? she whispered over her shoulder from the other end ofthat trailing length of pansy-coloured velvet. Perfectly/ Isaid. But there was nobody to tell me that I was all right—Imight have been a thing of shreds and patches. Somebodys. IT WAS MY TUKN 3o6 AN AMERICAN GIRL IN LONDON roses had dropped; I was walking on pink petals. What apity! And I had forgotten to take off my glove ; would it evercome unbuttoned ? How deliberately we were nearing that doorat the farther end ! And how could I possibly have supposedthat my heart would beat like this! It was all very well toallow ones self a little excitement in preparation ; but when itcame to the actual event I reminded myself that I had not hadthe slightest intention of being nervous. I called all my demo-cratic principles to my assistance—none of them would come. Remember, Mamie Wick, said I to myself, you dont believein queens. But at that moment I saw three Gentlemen of theHousehold bending over, and stretching out Lady Torquilinstrain into an illimitable expanse. I looked beyond, and there,in the midst of all her dazzling Court, stood Queen Lady Torquilin was bending over her hand ! And inanother moment it would be—it
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