Kirsteen: The Story of a Scotch Family Seventy Years AgoOliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
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Kirsteen: The Story of a Scotch Family Seventy Years Ago
Oliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
Domestic fiction; Scotland -- Fiction
And it may be imagined that with all this in her mind it became more
than ever important to Mary to make an early call upon Miss Jean and
provide herself as rapidly as possible with a dress that was fit to be
worn among such fine company. The riding-habit which she had worn at her
marriage, though exceedingly fine and becoming, was not a garment in
which she could appear at the dinner-table in Portman Square. There are
some rare geniuses who have an intuitive knowledge of what is finest and
best without having learned it, and in respect to society and dress and
the details of high life Mary was one of these gifted persons. Her habit
had been very highly thought of in the country. It was a costume, many
rustic persons supposed, in which it would be possible to approach the
presence of Queen Charlotte herself. But Mary knew by intuition just how
far this was possible. And she knew that for the Duke’s table a white
gown was indispensable in which to play her part as a bride; therefore,
as there was no saying at what moment the invitation might arrive, nor
how soon the dinner might take place, she considered it expedient to
carry out her intention at once. Happily Glendochart next morning was
still a little crazy about the victory, and anxious to go down to the
Horse Guards to make inquiries, if she would excuse him, as he said
apologetically. Mary did so with the best grace in the world. “And while
you are asking about your old friends,” she said, “I will just go and
see if I can find out anything about my poor sister--“ “That is just a
most kind thing to do, and exactly what I would have expected from you,
my dear,” said Glendochart, grateful to his young wife for allowing him
so much liberty. And he hastened to secure a glass coach for her in
which she could drive to Miss Jean, and “see all the London ferlies,” as
he said, on the way. It was not a very splendid vehicle to drive up to
Miss Jean’s door, where the carriages of the nobility appeared every
day; but Mrs. Mary felt herself the admired of all beholders as she
drove along the streets, well set up in the middle of the seat as if she
had been the queen. Her heart beat a little when she reached the house,
with mingled alarm as to Kirsteen’s reception of her, and pride in her
own superior standing, far above any unmarried person, as Mrs. Campbell
of Glendochart. The name did not indeed impress the maid who received
her, and who asked twice what it was, begging pardon for not catching
it the first time, and suggesting “Lady Campbell of--?” “Mistress
Campbell,” said Mary. She felt even in that moment a little taken down.
It was as if the maid was accustomed to nothing less than my lady. She
was so agitated that she did not perceive the name of Miss Kirsteen in
connection with that of Miss Brown upon the brass plate of the door.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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