[The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth]@TWC D-Link bookThe Absentee CHAPTER III 16/16
The company ate and drank--enjoyed themselves--went away--and laughed at their hostess. Some, indeed, who thought they had been neglected, were in too bad humour to laugh, but abused her in sober earnest; for Lady Clonbrony had offended half, nay, three-quarters of her guests, by what they termed her exclusive attention to those very leaders of the ton, from whom she had suffered so much, and who had made it obvious to all that they thought they did her too much honour in appearing at her gala.
So ended the gala for which she had lavished such sums; for which she had laboured so indefatigably; and from which she had expected such triumph. 'Colambre, bid the musicians stop; they are playing to empty benches,' said Lady Clonbrony.
'Grace, my dear, will you see that these lamps are safely put out? I am so tired, so WORN OUT, I must go to bed; and I am sure I have caught cold too! What a NERVOUS BUSINESS it is to manage these things! I wonder how one gets through it, or WHY one does it!'.
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