Sit down,
I entreat, and take some chocolate. I know Mrs. Betty is an excellent
housekeeper, and I want her opinion. My dear Lady Aresfield, suffer
me to introduce my estimable cousin, Mrs. Betty Delavie."
The Countess looking in her feathers and powder like a beetroot in
white sauce, favoured Betty with a broad stare. Vulgarity was very
vulgar in those days, especially when it had purchased rank, and
thought manners might be dispensed with. Betty sat down, and Amoret
climbed on her lap, while a diversion was made by Archer's imperious
entreaty that his mamma would purchase a mandarin who not only nodded,
but waved his hands and protruded his tongue.
Then ensued what seemed, to the sickening suspense of the two Delavies,
a senseless Babel of tongues on all sides; but it ended in the _friseur_
putting up his implements, the trades-folk leaving the selected goods
unpaid for, and the poor poet bowing himself within reach of the monkey,
who made a clutch at his MS., chattered over it, and tore it into
fragments. There was a peal of mirth--loudest from Lady Aresfield--
but Sir Amyas sprang forward with gentlemanly regrets, apologies, and
excuses, finally opening the door and following the poor man out of
the room to administer the guinea from his own pocket, while Colonel
Mar exclaimed, "Here, Archer, boy, run after him with this.
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