THE VICTIMS OF SOCIETY BY THE COUNTESS OF BLESSINGTON. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. "'Tis you that say it, not I; you do the deeds, LONDON SAUNDERS AND OTLEY CONDUIT STREET. M.DCCC.XXXVII. THE VICTIMS OF SOCIETY. MISS MONTRESSOR TO LA MARQUISE MA CHERE Delphine, I promised in my last to make you au fait of the scene at the theatre, and sit down to perform that promise. Eh bien donc, we went to Drury Lane in the evening; and you may judge my astonishment when, in the box vis-à-vis to us, we discovered Lord and Lady Vernon, Lady Annandale, and Lord Nottingham. 66 Ah, la voilà!" said the comtesse ; royez que j'avais raison. est avec eux, pour tenir comme je l'avois predit." VOL. III. Milord Nottingham compagnie au papa, B This remark produced a peal of laughter from all but Lord Annandale and myself: he looked furious, because he felt the ridicule of his position, and the comtesse had no mercy on him; while I used my utmost endeavours to put a good face on the business, by discoursing on the attachment of Lord Nottingham for Lord and Lady Vernon, with whom, I added, he had been staying in the country since Lady Annandale's marriage. This statement, implying an ancient friendship, gave a better colour to the affair; and, though it by no means imposed on Lord Annandale, his looks thanked me for it. The comtesse pertinaciously observed Lord Nottingham's box all the evening, for it was in it they sat; and shewed as much ill breeding as any fine lady in London could display, though they all are, in general, remarkable for this quality thinking themselves, I suppose by virtue of their vocation, privileged to be disagreeable. Our opposite neighbours left the theatre some time before we did; and, when we arrived at Annandale House, the comtesse was so indelicate as to ask the porter if miladi had returned, and with whom? "With Lord Nottingham," was the answer; which brought the blood to Lord Annandale's face, and elicited a spiteful observation from the comtesse, as to the freedom from gêne of any kind with which les dames Anglaises managed their love affairs. I can see that Lord Annandale begins to detest sa seigneurie, and no wonder; for she, to avenge her pique at his having married, hesitates not to say things that you or I, with all the malice possible, could not bring ourselves to utter. Mais tant mieux, for her brusquerie saves me the necessity of making disagreeable disclosures. |