Not far off, but sideways to it, sat Lady Belamour in a loose sacque
of some rich striped silk, in crimson and blue stripes shot with gold
threads. Slippers, embroidered with gold, showed off her dainty feet,
and a French hairdresser stood behind her chair putting the finishing
touches to the imposing fabric of powder, flower, and feather upon
her head. A little hand-mirror, framed in carved ivory inlaid with
coral, and a fan, lay on a tiny spindle-legged table close in front
of her, together with a buff-coloured cup of chocolate. At a somewhat
larger table Mrs. Loveday, her woman, was dispensing the chocolate,
whilst a little negro boy, in a fantastic Oriental costume, waited
to carry the cups about.
On a sofa near at hand, in an easy attitude, reclined Colonel Mar,
holding out to Lady Belamour a snuff-box of tortoiseshell and gold,
and a lady sat near on one of the tall black-and-gold chairs drinking
chocolate, while all were giving their opinions on the laces, feathers,
ribbons, and trinkets which another Frenchman was displaying from a
basket-box placed on the floor, trying to keep aloof a little Maltese
lion-dog, which had been roused from its cushion, and had come to
inspect his wares. A little further off, Archer, in a blue velvet
coat, white satin waistcoat, and breeches and silk stockings, and
Amoret, white-frocked, blue-sashed, and bare-headed (an innovation
of fashion), were admiring the nodding mandarins, grinning nondescript
monsters, and green lions of extraordinary form which an emissary
from a curiosity-shop was unpacking.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306