Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 187? edition. Excerpt: ...to the royal family of Wiirtemberg." Miss Pink received the full shock of this information without receding from her position by a hair's-breadth. " An English gentlewoman offers a fit alliance to any man living who seeks her hand in marriage," said Miss Pink. " Isabel's mother (you may not be aware of it) was the daughter of an English clergyman--" "And Isabel's father was a chemist in a country town," added Lady Lydiard. "Isabel's father," rejoined Miss Pink, "was attached in a most responsible capacity to the useful and honorable profession of Medicine. Isabel is, in the strictest sense of the word, a young gentlewoman. If you contradict that for a single instant, Lady Lydiard, you will oblige me to leave the room." Those last words produced a result which Miss Pink had not anticipated--they roused Lady Lydiard to assert herself. As usual in such cases, she rose superior to her own eccentricity. Confronting Miss Pink, she now spoke and looked with the gracious courtesy and the un-presuming self-confidence of the order to which she belonged. " For Isabel's own sake, and for the quieting of my conscience," she answered, " I will say one word more, Miss Pink, before I relieve you of my presence. Considering my age and my opportunities, I may claim to know quite as much as you do of the laws and customs which regulate society in our time. Without contesting your niece's social position, and without the slightest intention of insulting you, I repeat that the rank which Mr. Hardyman inherits makes it simply impossible even for him to think of marrying Isabel. You will do well not to give him any opportunities of meeting with her alone. And you will do better still (seeing that he is so near a neighbor of yours) if you permit Isabel to return...