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Bab Lookaloft, as she had always been called by the young Greenacres in the days of their juvenile equality, might possibly sit next to the Honourable George, and that wretched Gussy might be permitted to hand a custard to the Lady Margaretta De Courcy. The fruition of these honours, or such of them as fell to the lot of the envied family, was not such as should have caused much envy.
"What ails you, Thomas?" inquired his sister, rising and approaching him. But he made no reply. "Tell me, what ails you, Thomas?" Mary urged, taking his hand affectionately. "I have been to see Margaretta," the brother at length replied, in as calm a voice as he could assume. "And she has not, surely, declined your offer?"
The countess got up as Crosbie entered and greeted him with an open hand; but Alexandrina kept her seat, and merely nodded at him a little welcome. "I must run down again," said Margaretta, "or I shall have left Amelia with all the cares of the house upon her." "Alexandrina has told me all about it," said the countess, with her sweetest smile, "and I have given her my approval.
Miss Oriel was in every respect a nice neighbour; she was good-humoured, lady-like, lively, neither too clever nor too stupid, belonging to a good family, sufficiently fond of this world's good things, as became a pretty young lady so endowed, and sufficiently fond, also, of the other world's good things, as became the mistress of a clergyman's house. "Indeed, yes," said the Lady Margaretta.
"Dear, dear," said Amelia, "what trouble I had in getting these things together for them, and only the other day. I can't but think she's wrong to go away." "I don't know," said Margaretta. "She has not been so lucky as you have in the man she has married. I always felt that she would find it difficult to manage him." "But, my dear, she has not tried. She has given up at once.
"Oh, yes, indeed they are," said the countess not minding him in the least; "perfectly dreadful are they not, Margaretta? Why, my dear Miss Thorne, we left Courcy Castle just at eleven; it was only just past eleven, was it not, George? And " "Just past one I think you mean," said the Honourable George, turning from the group and eyeing the signora through his glass.
And so Maria Theresa silenced her scruples, and persuaded herself that she was compelled to do as the tempter had suggested. She tore open the note; but true to her self-imposed vow, she paused on the threshold of dishonor, and read nothing but the writer's name. "Riccardo!" cried she, wildly. "You were right, Margaretta: an intrigue with the Riccardo.
And, to tell the truth honestly at once, Mr Crosbie had been on terms of great friendship with Lady de Courcy's daughters, the Ladies Margaretta and Alexandrina perhaps especially so with the latter, though I would not have my readers suppose by my saying so that anything more tender than friendship had ever existed between them.
I am afraid that was wrong, Margaretta." "I'm sure I cannot tell whether it is or not, aunt. But I've had no peace about them, night nor day, since the bank failed." There was bitterness in the tone of Margaretta's voice, that touched the feelings of her aunt, and tended to confirm her worst fears.
Was a pupil of Caspar Netscher of Heidelberg, whose little pictures are of fabulous value. Although he was so excellent a painter he was proud of Margaretta, whose pictures were much admired in her day. Her "Musical Conversation" is in the Museum of Schwerin. Her "Cleopatra" and "Semiramis" are in the Gallery at Amsterdam.
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