"And I had rather have our dear old honest corporal than a dozen of
those fine lackeys," said Aurelia. "But you will tell us the story
like a good sister, while we brush the powder out of our hair."
They put on powdering gowns, after releasing themselves from the armour
of their stays, and were at last at ease, each seated on a wooden chair
in the powdering closet, brush in hand, with a cloud of white dust
flying round, and the true colour of the hair beginning to appear.
"Then it is indeed true that My Lady is one of the greatest beauties
of Queen Caroline's Court, if not the greatest?" said Harriet.
"Truly she is," said Betty, "and though in full maturity, she preserves
the splendour of her prime."
"Tell us more particularly," said Aurelia; "can she be more lovely
than our dear mamma?"
"No, indeed! lovely was never the word for her, to my mind," said
Betty; "her face always seemed to me more like that of one of the
marble statues I remember at Vienna; perfect, but clear, cold, and
hard. But I am no judge, for I did not love her, and in a child,
admiration accompanies affection."
"What did Palmer mean by 'handsome is that handsome does'? Surely
my father never was ill-treated by Lady Belamour?"
"Let me explain," said the elder sister.
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