[Melchior’s Dream and Other Tales by Juliana Horatia Ewing]@TWC D-Link book
Melchior’s Dream and Other Tales

CHAPTER IV
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That is why the sergeant is coming to-morrow and every week-day morning to drill you and Joseph from ten to eleven whilst you remain here." And my godmother pressed the leaves of the journal on her lap, and cut them quite straight and very decisively with a heavy ivory paper-knife.
I had never been taught that it is bad manners to mutter--nurse always talked to herself when she was "put out"-- and, as I stood in much awe of Lady Elizabeth, I did not like to complain aloud of her arrangements.

So I turned my doll with a sharp flounce in my arms, and muttered behind her tarlatan skirts that "I did think we were to have had whole holidays out visiting." I believe my godmother heard me; but she only looked at me for a moment over the top of her gold eye-glasses, and then went on reading the paper through them.
After a few moments, she laid it down on her lap with her left hand, and with her right hand took off her eye-glasses and held them between her fingers.
"I shall be sorry if you don't grow up nice-looking, Selina," she said.

"It's a great advantage to a woman--indeed, to anyone--to be good-looking.

Your mother was a pretty woman, too; and your father--" Lady Elizabeth stopped, and then, seeming suddenly to see that I was watching her and waiting, put her glasses before her eyes again, and continued-- "Your father was a very good-looking gentleman, with a fine face and a fine figure, beautiful eyes and mouth, very attractive hands, and most fascinating manners.

It will be a pity if you don't grow up nice-looking." I grew crimson, partly with mortification and partly with astonishment.


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