Hitherto she had imitated Lady Clonbrony's air and accent only behind her back; but, bolder grown, she now ventured, in spite of Lady Langdale's warning pinches, to mimic her kind hostess before her face, and to her face.

Now, whenever Lady Clonbrony saw anything that struck her fancy in the dress of her fashionable friends, she had a way of hanging her head aside, and saying, with a peculiar sentimental drawl-- 'How pretty!--how elegant! Now that quite suits my TEESTE! This phrase, precisely in the same accent, and with the head set to the same angle of affectation, Mrs.Dareville had the assurance to address to her ladyship, apropos to something which she pretended to admire in Lady Clonbrony's COSTUME--a costume which, excessively fashionable in each of its parts, was, all together, so extraordinarily unbecoming as to be fit for a print-shop.

The perception of this, added to the effect of Mrs.
Dareville's mimicry, was almost too much for Lady Langdale; she could not possibly have stood it, but for the appearance of Miss Nugent at this instant behind Lady Clonbrony.

Grace gave one glance of indignation which seemed suddenly to strike Mrs.Dareville.Silence for a moment ensued, and afterwards the tone of the conversation was changed.
'Salisbury!--explain this to me,' said a lady, drawing Mr.Salisbury aside.

'If you are in the secret, do explain this to me; for unless I had seen it, I could not have believed it.