The Visits of Elizabeth | Page 6

nets! and their heads look as if they had dozens of hairpins in
them, and because it is out of the season they have gone back to their
country high linen collars, and they look as if they were choking. I hate
linen collars, don't you, Mamma? Two Ethridge aunts are staying here
besides me, and we all have to sit together in the morning-room, as
everything is covered up in the drawing-rooms, ready for being shut up
next week, when they go to Scotland. After lunch the girls did nothing
but question me about what we had done at Nazeby. They said Lady
Cecilia only asks them to the dullest parties. They knew every one's
name, they had carefully read them in the Morning Post. They wanted
especially to know about Lord Valmond because Lettice had danced
with him once this season. They thought him awfully good-looking. I
said he was an odious young man and very rude. So Lettice said she
supposed he had not spoken to me, as he never speaks to girls. I told
them that was quite a mistake as he had spoken to me all the time, but I
hated him. And do you know, Mamma, they looked as if they did not
believe a word I was saying; which was not very polite I think.
When we got upstairs they wanted to see all my clothes, but fortunately
Agnès had only taken out one or two things, and they asked me to let
their maid take patterns of everything. Of course I could not refuse, but
I hate my things being mauled over by strange females, and Agnès was
simply furious. I am sure she will scratch the maid when she comes to
ask for a frock. They tried on my hats all at the wrong angle, first Clara,
then Lettice, and made faces and gave little screams at themselves in
the glass, and no wonder, for they looked perfect guys in them, with
their tight "tongy" hair. Then they tossed them on to the bed as they
finished with them, and Agnès kept muttering to herself like distant
thunder. Finally Lettice danced a pas seul with the white rose toque

perched on the back of her head, and she made such kicks and jumps
that it lurched off, and landed in the water jug! At that Agnès got
beside herself.
"Fi! donc, Mademoiselle!" she screamed, "ça c'est trop fort!"
[Sidenote: On the Water Shoot]
The hat is quite spoilt, so please write and order me another one from
Caroline's, like a nice, sweet, pretty, darling Mamma. At tea they were
all so interested when I told them I was going to stay in France with the
de Croixmares. One of the Ethridge aunts (Rowena) pricked up her ears
at once, and asked me if Madame de Croixmare was not my godmother,
and had she not been a great friend of poor papa's. So I told her yes,
and that I was going there for three weeks. She and Aunt Mary
exchanged looks, I don't know why, but it irritated me, Mamma, and I
rather snapped at Aunt Mary when she began about my hair again. And
presently I heard her saying to the other aunt that it was a pity girls
nowadays were allowed to be impertinent to their elders.
Of course there was not a thing to do, every one having left Town, so in
the evening Uncle Geoffrey took us to the Exhibition to go down in the
Water Shoot. That is lovely, Mamma, only I had to sit beside Lettice,
because Clara was frightened and would be with her father. A horrid
man behind, who, I suppose, was not holding on, flopped right on to us
at the bump in the water, and then said, "Beg pardon, dears," and it
made Uncle Geoffrey so cross he would not let us go down any more,
and we had to go home and to bed. I am just scribbling this before
breakfast.
We go on to Great-aunt Maria's by the eleven train. I am glad Cousin
Octavia is going to take me out next season instead of Aunt Mary,
which was first suggested. I know I should not have been good with her.
She is not a bit like you, darling Mamma. I hope you are better; I shan't
see you again until next Saturday, when I leave Heaviland Manor. It is
a long time.--With love from your affectionate daughter, Elizabeth.

HEAVILAND MANOR
Heaviland Manor,
Wednesday, August 3rd.
Dearest Mamma,--I can't think why you made me come here! Agnès
has been so sniffy and condescending ever since this morning; but I
have remarked that Uncle John's valet is only about forty and has a
roving eye! so perhaps by to-morrow morning I shan't