Dilemmas of Pride, (Vol 1 of 3)

g backward and forward, from turnpike to turnpike, while the open barouches, filled with bonnets of every colour in the rainbow, flaunti

omething aristocratic about both her countenance and carriage, although she was closely followed by a trollopy lo

ly furnished, a great preference over their competitors. In the centre of the room stood a table covered with a very dingy green baize, and round the walls were ranged some half dozen small mock rosewood chairs, accommodated with little square inclined planes, covered with pink calico, and called cushions. Either for want of strings at the back, or in consequence of such strings being out of repair, these said inclined planes, whenever you attempted to help yourself or any one else to a chair, flew off, either into the middle of the floor, or if it was the fire you had wished to appr

the maid, when, in reply to a comment of hers on the subj

be sitting, the length of an evening, stuck upright on one

it lasts; but she has promised faithfully, that as soon as the sick lady goes away, wh

th a sofa; or, if they are, they'll keep it in the next room, when it is vacant, to be a decoy-duck to another l

e room a very respectable appearance. And then there is a chiffonier; that's a great comfort to put one's groceries in; or a few bisket

examining the chiffonier; "and

aid Mrs. Dorothea, "sh

bandboxes, and ordered to hurry

g any thing done, and that as to unpacking, there was no use in attempting it, in a place where they should never be able to stop. When the dinner was asked for, she replied, that she believed it had been done some time, bu

mutton-chops, which had evidently been upset into the ashes

e thus addressed Sarah; for people who live quite alone, are

ince the Salters have ca

hey was a saying, as I said, that they didn't think as they should call any more; for that nobody never knew where to find you, as you was always a changing your lodg

ade so particular a request of my friends that they would call on them, that I quite laid myself under obligations to people. They could find out my lodgings fast enough, when they were coming to my little sociable parties five nights out of the seven; declaring they did not know what was to become o

are to have a grand party this very night at th

out for some time. And who a

orts of fine people. Mrs. Johnson sais, as the young ladies should say,

I suppose; but did you

re to have Sir Matthia

ighted only the other day; and as for his poor goodnatured, vulgar wife, she

abigail, "and then they are to ha

know what he was himself, but they say he had just married his cook-maid; and he

ove that myself. And let me see, who el

ry low birth herself; and what is much worse, she is a woman of bad character, which of c

Mrs. Johnson sais is

k-leg; a man shut out from all good society; he may do very we

rah, "let me see-Sir-Sir-Sir Fran

so that he is glad of any thing for variety. Strange notions some people have of duty! in my opinion, if a woman will not make a man's home comfortable and agreeable to

emember any more, exc

will be troubled with him who can get anybody else to fill up their roo

d so many titles among them too; why to have heard Mrs. Johnson ta

o wrote to me about them been sufficiently explicit as to who and what they were. The daughters, I suppose, would be excessively indignant i

Why isn't that all as

certainly," repl

oud: but it's always them there upstartish so

. And the very young men that eat Mr. Salter's roast beef now, washed down too with his champaign and his claret, will not be the less ready to jeer at the time he sold the same commodity raw. When my sister, Lady Arden, comes, and her three beautiful daug

articular what sort of meat he sends to such a good judge as Mr. Salter. Perhaps you could s

dly inclined. How are my summer things ever to be ready at this rate. This mulberr

hat I do; but this evening Mrs. Johnson has, of course, the privilege of the music-gallery, and

d how the people are dressed-and how often the refreshment trays come in-and whether they attempt a supper-and who begins the dancing. The Miss Salters will get partners for once in their lives, I suppose! And I da

new bows in her bonnet, and slip stiffeners into the large sleeves of her best silk dress; determining to comple

ed themselves suddenly and unbidden, forming a violent contrast with the whole class of petty and degradin

father's roof, with what appalling horror would she have thought of the chance-co

h her mind, of eligible establishments rejected with scorn, of comfort and respec

though now but faintly seen amid the haze of distance, still seemed a little illumined

to pay some morning visits, to send in a veal cutlet for her dinner,