You
heard what he said to the servants to-night? I wonder they stand it. I
should go out of my mind myself if I didn't get a little amusement
going up to the shops and sneaking into a _matinee_ on the sly. I'm
sure I don't know how you'll stand it, after the life you've led. What
do you use for your hair? It's so soft and silky. I wish I had black
hair like yours. Do you put anything on your hands? They're rather
brown; but that's because you've lived in the open air so much, I
suppose. I'll lend you some stuff I use, if you like."
Ida declined the brandy and the infallible preparation for whitening
the hands; and not at all discouraged, Isabel went on:
"Were there any young men at Herondale? You didn't say anything about
them down-stairs, but I thought perhaps you would like to tell me when
we were alone. I suppose there was someone you were sorry to part
from?" she added, with an inviting smile.
Ida repressed a shudder and plied her brush vigorously, so that her
hair hid the scarlet which suffused her face.
"I knew so few of the people," she said. "As I told you down-stairs, my
father and I led the most secluded of lives, and saw scarcely anyone.
Pages:
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452