Oblige me by trying on this white silk!"
Jemima looked at herself in the glass; she was obliged to own it
was very becoming, and perhaps not the less so for the flush of
modest shame which came into her cheeks, as she heard Mrs.
Pearson's open praises of the "rich, beautiful hair," and the
"Oriental eyes" of the wearer.
"I induced the young lady who accompanied your sisters the other
day--the governess, is she, ma'am?"
"Yes--Mrs. Denbigh is her name," said Jemima, clouding over.
"Thank you, ma'am. Well, I persuaded Mrs. Denbigh to try on that
bonnet, and you can't think how charming she looked in it; and
yet I don't think it became her as much as it does you."
"Mrs. Denbigh is very beautiful," said Jemima, taking off the
bonnet, and not much inclined to try on any other.
"Very, ma'am. Quite a peculiar style of beauty. If I might be
allowed, I should say that hers was a Grecian style of
loveliness, while yours was Oriental. She reminded me of a young
person I once knew in Fordham." Mrs. Pearson sighed an audible
sigh.
"In Fordham!" said Jemima, remembering that Ruth had once spoken
of the place as one in which she had spent some time, while the
county in which it was situated was the same in which Ruth was
born. "In Fordham! Why, I think Mrs. Denbigh comes from that
neighbourhood."
"Oh, ma'am! she cannot be the young person I mean--I am sure,
ma'am--holding the position she does in your establishment.
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