Ashcliffe Hall: A tale of the last centuryHolt, Emily Sarah
General
Ashcliffe Hall: A tale of the last century
Holt, Emily Sarah
England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Historical fiction; Religious fiction
Celia went slowly back to her own room, feeling very strange, very
lonely, and very miserable, though she hardly knew why. As soon as
she reached it, she proceeded to contravene all Lady Ingram's orders
by a good cry. She felt all the better for it; and having bathed her
eyes, and comforted herself with a few words out of her Book, she was
ready when Thérèse came to summon her to go down to breakfast with
her step-mother. They breakfasted in a room down-stairs, the Consul
and his wife being present; the latter a voluble French woman, who
talked very fast to Lady Ingram. The days passed drearily to Celia;
but she kept looking forward to the Sunday, on which she hoped to
hear a sermon different from Dr. Braithwaite's. When the Sunday
arrived, the carriage came round after breakfast to take Celia to
hear Dr. Sacheverell, who, William had learned, was to preach at St.
Andrew's that morning. To Holborn, therefore, the coach drove; and
Celia entered St. Andrew's Church alone. She was put into a great
pew, presently filled with other ladies; and the service was
conducted by a young clergyman in a fair wig, who seemed more
desirous to impress his hearers with himself than with his subject.
Then the pulpit was mounted by a stout man in a dark wig, who
preached very fluently, very energetically, and very dogmatically, a
discourse in which there were more politics than religion, and very
much more of Henry Sacheverell than of Jesus Christ.
All the attention which Celia could spare from the service and the
preacher was concentrated in amazement on her fellow-worshippers.
They were tolerably attentive to the sermon, but on the prayers they
bestowed no notice whatever. All were dressed in the height of the
fashion, and all carried fans and snuff-boxes. The former they
flourished, handled, unfurled, discharged, grounded, recovered, and
fluttered all through the service.[6] Whenever the fans were still
for a moment, the snuff-boxes came into requisition, and the amount
of snuff consumed by these fashionable ladies astonished Celia. They
talked in loud whispers, with utter disregard to the sanctity of
place and circumstances; and the tone of their conversation was
another source of surprise to their hearer.
"Do you see Sir Thomas?"
"I am sure he is looking this way."
"There is Lady Betty--no, on your left."
"Lady Diana has not come this morning."
"How modishly she dresses!"
"Look at the Duchess--what a handsome brocade!"
"That lace cost five guineas the yard, I am certain."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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