For a moment she paused to look round the splendid drawing rooms, as if to ascertain that the scene was real, and no fleeting vision of her fancy. Then darting forward, she roamed from room to room, admiring every thing, examining nothing: the china, the mirrors, the statues, the lamps, the chandeliers, all in turn caught her attention, and all were in turn abandoned; "Gold, silver, iv'ry, vases sculptur'd high, Paint, marbles, gems, and robes of Persian dye." At last she noticed the balcony, that "rifled all the breathing spring," and flew to the open French window, expressing aloud all her admiration. "All that does vastly well, my dear Selina, now we are _tÍte a tÍte_," quietly said the Viscountess, who, in the mean time, had been looking over the cards that nearly covered one of her tables. "But, pray child, don't be too _naÔve_. You must learn to suppress your feelings; indeed, my dear, you must. If you choose to adopt the _ton_ of natural manners, do so, _cela vous sied bien_; but make the proper distinction between simplicity and ignorance. I will never act the _chaperone_ to _La contadina in corte_." Then perceiving her rebuke had, at the moment, all the effect she desired, she took Selina's arm, and familiarly leaning on it, "Come, my love," added she, "let me introduce you to your own apartments: I feel you are so much my child, I quite forget to play the Lady Macbeth, and kindly bid you welcome." Lady Eltondale knew so well how to soften the asperity of reproof, without weakening its effect, that, perhaps, there were no moments in which her fascinating powers were more displayed, than when she finely touched a string a less skilful hand would jar: and, having once hinted to Selina that possibility of her unrestrained emotions being construed into the affectation of _naÔvetÈ_; she knew the diffidence that suggestion would occasion, would have the effect of making her still more pliable to her well versed instructress in the arts of fashion.