So she sat down by Mrs Gibson, and as Mrs Goodenough afterwards expressed it, 'looked like anybody else.' Mrs Goodenough said this to excuse herself for a little misadventure she fell into.She had taken a deliberate survey of the grandees at the upper end of the room, spectacles on nose, and had inquired, in no very measured voice, who everybody was, from Mr Sheepshanks, my lord's agent, and her very good neighbour, who in vain tried to check her loud ardour for information by replying to her in whispers.But she was rather deaf as well as blind, so his low tones only brought upon him fresh inquiries.Now, satisfied as far as she could be, and on her way to departure, and the extinguishing of fire and candlelight, she stopped opposite to Mrs Gibson, and thus addressed her by way of renewal of their former subject of conversation, - 'Such a shabby thing for a duchess I never saw; not a bit of a diamond near her.They're none of them worth looking at except the countess, and she's always a personable woman, and not so lusty as she was.But they're not worth waiting up for till this time o' night.' There was a moment's pause.Then Lady Harriet put her hand out, and said, - 'You don't remember me, but I know you from having seen you at the Towers.
Lady Cumnor is a good deal thinner than she was, but we hope her health is better for it.' 'It's Lady Harriet,' said Mrs Gibson to Mrs Goodenough, in reproachful dismay.'Deary me, your ladyship! I hope I've given no offence! But, you see -that is to say, your ladyship sees, that it's late hours for such folks as me, and I only stayed out of my bed to see the duchess, and I thought she'd come in diamonds and a coronet; and it puts one out at my age, to be disappointed in the only chance I'm like to have of so fine a sight.' 'I'm put out too,' said Lady Harriet.'I wanted to have come early, and here we are as late as this.I'm so cross and ill-tempered, I should be glad to hide myself in bed as soon as you will do.' She said this so sweetly that Mrs Goodenough relaxed into a smile, and her crabbedness into a compliment.'I don't believe as ever your ladyship can be cross and ill-tempered with that pretty face.I'm an old woman, so you must let me say so.' Lady Harriet stood up, and made a low curtsey.Then holding out her hand, she said, - 'I won't keep you up any longer; but I'll promise one thing in return for your pretty speech: if ever I am a duchess, I'll come and show myself to you in all my robes and gewgaws.Good-night, madam!' 'There! I knew how it would be!' said she, not resuming her seat.'And on the eve of a county election too.' 'Oh! you must not take old Mrs Goodenough as a specimen, dear Lady Harriet.
She is always a grumbler! I am sure no one else would complain of your all being as late as you liked,' said Mrs Gibson.'What do you say, Molly?' said Lady Harriet, suddenly turning her eyes on Molly's face.'Don't you think we've lost some of our popularity, -which at this time means votes - by coming so late.Come, answer me! you used to be a famous little truth-teller.' 'I don't know about popularity or votes,' said Molly, rather unwillingly.
'But I think many people were sorry you did not come sooner; and isn't that rather a proof of popularity?' she added.'That's a very neat and diplomatic answer,' said Lady Harriet, smiling, and tapping Molly's cheek with her fan.' 'Molly knows nothing about it,' said Mrs Gibson, a little off her guard.
'It would be very impertinent if she or any one else questioned Lady Cumnor's perfect right to come when she chose.' 'Well, all I know is, I must go back to mamma now, but I shall make another raid into these regions by-and-by, and you must keep a place for me.Ah!
there are - the Miss Brownings; you see I don't forget my lesson, Miss Gibson.' 'Molly, I cannot have you speaking so to Lady Harriet,' said Mrs Gibson, as soon as she was left alone with her step-daughter.'You would never have known her at all if it had not been for me, and don't be always putting yourself into our conversation.' 'But I must speak if she asks me questions,' pleaded Molly.'Well! if you must, you must, I acknowledge.I'm candid about that at any rate.But there's no need for you to set up to have an opinion at your age.' 'I don't know how to help it,' said Molly.'She's such a whimsical person; look there, if she's not talking to Miss Phoebe; and Miss Phoebe is so weak she'll be easily led away into fancying she is hand and glove with Lady Harriet.If there is one thing I hate more than another, it is the trying to make out an intimacy with great people.' Molly felt innocent enough, so she offered no justification of herself, and made no reply.Indeed she was more occupied in watching Cynthia.She could not understand the change that seemed to have come over the latter.