All went
well till my Lady came to visit her father. Then all old offences
were renewed. Lady Belamour treated my mother as a poor dependant.
She, daughter to a noble line of pedigree far higher than that of the
Delavies, might well return her haughty looks, and would not yield
an inch, nor join in the general adulation. There were disputes about
us children. Poor Archie was a most beautiful boy, and though you
might not suppose it, I was a very pretty little girl, this nose of
mine being then much more shapely than the little buttons which grow
to fair proportions. On the other hand, the little Belamours were
puny and sickly; indeed, as you know, this young Sir Amyas, who was
not then born, is the only one of the whole family who has been reared.
Then we had been carefully bred, could chatter French, recite poetry,
make our bow and curtsey, bridle, and said Sir and Madam, while the
poor little cousins who had been put out to nurse had no more manners
than the calves and pigs. People were the more flattering to us
because they expected soon to see my father in his Lordship's place;
and on the other hand, officious tongues were not wanting to tell my
Lady how Mrs. Delavie contrasted the two sets of children. Very
bitter offence was taken; nor has my Lady ever truly forgiven, whatever
our dear good father may believe.
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