Lady Eltondale was excessively entertained at the surprise and confusion of Selina, at reading this unexpected compliment to her own charms, the real existence of which she was totally unconscious of. As the time had arrived when Selina had promised to lay aside her mourning, they determined to commence the pleasing toil of shopping that very day, and accordingly visited in turn all the jewellers, milliners, mantua-makers, corset-makers, and shoemakers, and all the _et cetera_, that disputed the palm of fashionable praise. While Lady Eltondale gratified at once her love of extravagance and exquisite taste, as she directed that of her lovely charge, at the same time she indulged Selina's very natural curiosity, by taking her through the different parts of the metropolis; for the wary Viscountess was anxious that Selina should not be produced to the world's eye, while she was herself too new to its wonders; well knowing that all her care and all her instructions, would scarcely suffice to check the first warm effusions of an unpractised heart. Some days passed in this manner; and at last the decorations of Selina's lovely person being decided on, the embellishment of her mind was next to be attended to, at least so Lady Eltondale termed the cultivation of her _talents_; for with her _mind_ she, in truth, little interfered, however much she wished to direct the expression of her feelings. To perfect her in all the accomplishments of the day, the first masters were engaged to attend her. Selina, in her usual lively manner, wrote to Mrs. Galton an entertaining description of her various avocations, alleging that she was already introduced "to the whole _dramatis personÊ_ of the _Bourgeois Gentilhomme_," consisting of "_un maitre de musique_, _un maitre ‡ danser_, _un maitre tailleur_, _plusieurs laquais_" and that she hoped "_les hommes du bel air_ would soon make the _entrÈe du ballet_."