My Lady Ludlow | Page 7

table by her, and her waiting-maid came in
from a small anteroom; and, as if all had been prepared, and was
awaiting my arrival, brought with her a small china service with tea
ready made, and a plate of delicately-cut bread and butter, every morsel
of which I could have eaten, and been none the better for it, so hungry
was I after my long ride. The waiting-maid took off my cloak, and I sat
down, sorely alarmed at the silence, the hushed foot-falls of the
subdued maiden over the thick carpet, and the soft voice and clear
pronunciation of my Lady Ludlow. My teaspoon fell against my cup
with a sharp noise, that seemed so out of place and season that I
blushed deeply. My lady caught my eye with hers,--both keen and
sweet were those dark-blue eyes of her ladyship's:-
"Your hands are very cold, my dear; take off those gloves" (I wore
thick serviceable doeskin, and had been too shy to take them off
unbidden), "and let me try and warm them--the evenings are very
chilly." And she held my great red hands in hers,--soft, warm, white,
ring-laden. Looking at last a little wistfully into my face, she
said--"Poor child! And you're the eldest of nine! I had a daughter who
would have been just your age; but I cannot fancy her the eldest of
nine." Then came a pause of silence; and then she rang her bell, and
desired her waiting-maid, Adams, to show me to my room.
It was so small that I think it must have been a cell. The walls were
whitewashed stone; the bed was of white dimity. There was a small

piece of red staircarpet on each side of the bed, and two chairs. In a
closet adjoining were my washstand and toilet-table. There was a text
of Scripture painted on the wall right opposite to my bed; and below
hung a print, common enough in those days, of King George and
Queen Charlotte, with all their numerous children, down to the little
Princess Amelia in a go-cart. On each side hung a small portrait, also
engraved: on the left, it was Louis the Sixteenth; on the other,
Marie-Antoinette. On the chimney-piece there was a tinder-box and a
Prayer-book. I do not remember anything else in the room. Indeed, in
those days people did not dream of writing-tables, and inkstands, and
portfolios, and easy chairs, and what not. We were taught to go into our
bedrooms for the purposes of dressing, and sleeping, and praying.
Presently I was summoned to supper. I followed the young lady who
had been sent to call me, down the wide shallow stairs, into the great
hall, through which I had first passed on my way to my Lady Ludlow's
room. There were four other young gentlewomen, all standing, and all
silent, who curtsied to me when I first came in. They were dressed in a
kind of uniform: muslin caps bound round their heads with blue
ribbons, plain muslin handkerchiefs, lawn aprons, and drab-coloured
stuff gowns. They were all gathered together at a little distance from
the table, on which were placed a couple of cold chickens, a salad, and
a fruit tart. On the dais there was a smaller round table, on which stood
a silver jug filled with milk, and a small roll. Near that was set a carved
chair, with a countess's coronet surmounting the back of it. I thought
that some one might have spoken to me; but they were shy, and I was
shy; or else there was some other reason; but, indeed, almost the minute
after I had come into the hall by the door at the lower hand, her
ladyship entered by the door opening upon the dais; whereupon we all
curtsied very low; I because I saw the others do it. She stood, and
looked at us for a moment.
"Young gentlewomen," said she, "make Margaret Dawson welcome
among you;" and they treated me with the kind politeness due to a
stranger, but still without any talking beyond what was required for the
purposes of the meal. After it was over, and grace was said by one of
our party, my lady rang her hand-bell, and the servants came in and
cleared away the supper things: then they brought in a portable
reading-desk, which was placed on the dais, and, the whole household

trooping in, my lady called to one of my companions to come up and
read the Psalms and Lessons for the day. I remember thinking how
afraid I should have been had I been in her place. There were no
prayers. My lady thought it schismatic to have any prayers excepting
those in the Prayer-book; and would as soon have preached a sermon
herself in the