She had herself
proposed to turn the six weeks' delay, caused by the death in the
admiral's family, to good account, by continuing the all-important
practice of those domestic lessons, on the perfect acquirement of which
her mistress's daring stratagem depended for its success. Thanks to
the time thus gained, when Louisa's marriage was over, and the day
of parting had come, Magdalen had learned and mastered, in the nicest
detail, everything that her former servant could teach her. On the
day when she passed the doors of St. Crux she entered on her desperate
venture, strong in the ready presence of mind under emergencies which
her later life had taught her, stronger still in the trained capacity
that she possessed for the assumption of a character not her own,
strongest of all in her two months' daily familiarity with the practical
duties of the position which she had undertaken to fill.
As soon as Mrs. Drake's departure had left her alone, she unpacked her
box, and dressed herself for the evening.
She put on a lavender-colored stuff-gown--half-mourning for Mrs.
Girdlestone; ordered for all the servants, under the admiral's
instructions--a white muslin apron, and a neat white cap and collar,
with ribbons to match the gown.
Pages:
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021