THE LITTLE LADYCHAPTER VITHE LITTLE LADY
THE LITTLE LADY
Mymamma got quite well as soon as my frock and trousers were finished; and whenever she was allowed to go out with her aunt she took me with her. The girl whose sheet had been taken for the tent had made me a scarf of violet-colored satin, and a white silk bonnet, and these I always had on when we went out.
In a few weeks, however, I was destined to lose this kind mamma, and become the dear doll of another. If I couldhave foreseen that this would happen I should have fretted very much, because I was so fond of Ellen Plummy.
But it did happen, and in this manner.
One fine summer’s day Mrs. Sharpshins took Ellen for a walk in St. James’ Park, and after a little time we came to the piece of water, and saw several pretty children feeding the swans that live in that water. The children had some bread and small buns, which they broke in little pieces and threw into the water, where they floated till the swans swam up to the bread and bent their long white necks down to eat. Ellen begged her aunt to let her stay and look at the swans. ‘Look, Maria!’ said she to me, ‘what beautiful, bright, black eyes they have, and what lovely, snow-white necks, and how gracefully the breast of the swan moves upon the water, while the necks are in the shape of a beautiful arch!’
And These I Always Had On When We Went OutAnd These I Always Had On When We Went Out.
And These I Always Had On When We Went Out.
And These I Always Had On When We Went Out.
While they were looking at the swans, a very tall footman, in a green and gold livery, with a long, golden-headed cane and powdered hair came up to Mrs. Sharpshins from a carriage that was waiting near at hand, in which sat a grown-up lady with a little lady by her side. Both of them had also been observing the swans; but in doing so the little lady had at the same time fixed her eyes on me.
‘The Countess of Flowerdale wishes to speak with you,’ said the footman to Mrs. Sharpshins. Now the countess was a great lady, who sometimes employed Aunt Sharpshins to make her dresses for the country and to walk in the garden. Wewent with the footman, and I could see that Mrs. Sharpshins was in a great agitation.
‘Mrs. Sharpshins,’ said the countess, smiling, and with a gentle voice, ‘this young lady has been looking at your little girl’s doll more than at the swans, and she has taken a great fancy to the doll. The little girl is your niece, I believe. Will she part with her doll? I shallbe glad to purchase it or send her another.’
‘Oh, anything your ladyship wishes, of course,’ said Mrs. Sharpshins, with a very low curtsey.
‘Would you like to part with your doll, my dear?’ said the lady to Ellen.
I felt Ellen give me such a close hug as much as to say, ‘Oh, no, no!’ But her aunt stooped down and looked in her face under her bonnet with such a look! The great lady did not see it, but I saw it.
‘I could not think of taking it from your little niece if she is indisposed to part with it,’ said the great lady in a sweet voice.
Upon this the small lady by her side, who seemed to be about eight years of age, turned red in the face—the corners of her mouth drooped down—her eyes grew large and round, and out rolled one large, proud tear. But she did not cry or say a word.
Whether it was this one silent tear ofthe little lady, or the sweet voice of the great lady, or the look that her aunt had given her under her bonnet, I do not know, but Ellen, first giving me a kiss, lifted me up towards the carriage window, and gave me into the hands of the little lady with such a sigh!
‘Thank you, my dear,’ said the great lady, ‘I will take care to send you another handsome doll and doll’s cradle to-morrow morning, and something besides; and Mrs. Sharpshins, you can make me three or four more morning dresses the same as the last. I am in no hurry for them.’
The very tall footman got up to his place behind the carriage—the carriage drove off; the great lady nodded to Ellen; the little lady kissed her white glove to her; and Mrs. Sharpshins made a low curtsey, taking care to step just before Ellen in order that they should not see the tears that were just beginning to gush out of her eyes.
My new mamma, the little Lady Flora,was very pretty. She had a complexion like the most delicate wax-work, large bright eyes, a dimple in each cheek, and dimples all over her little knuckles. She had taken off her gloves to arrange my hair better, and began at once to talk to me in a very delightful manner.
We drove from St. James’ Park into Hyde Park, and on the way we passed a very great doll indeed, but looking so cross and black, and without any clothes on. ‘Look there, dear!’ said my little lady mamma, ‘that is the strongest and largest doll ever seen in London. His name is “Achilles,”—and the ladies of London had him made of iron and brass, because the Duke of Wellington was so lucky in playing at ball on the fields of Waterloo!’ The countess seemed much amused with this account. We met a great number of elegant carriages on our way, and nearly all the ladies inside exchanged salutations with the countess, and nodded to my little lady mamma. All who were elegant, andrichly dressed, and beautiful, and in fine carriages with rich liveries, seemed to know each other, and to be upon such delightful terms of affectionate intimacy! ‘Oh!’ thought I, ‘here is a new world! Everybody seems to respect, and admire, and love everybody else! How very delightful!’