Thérèse led her along the passage into a handsomely-furnished room, where, robed in a blue cashmere dressing-gown, Lady Ingram sat, with her long dark hair down upon her shoulders.
"Ah! good morning. Early!" was her short greeting to Celia, who bent down and kissed her.
"Now, my dear," pursued Lady Ingram, "please to sit down on that chair facing me. I have two or three remarks to make. You shall have your first lesson in the polishing you need so much."
Celia took the seat indicated with some trepidation, but more curiosity.
"Very well," said her step-mother. "Now, first, about blushing. You must get rid of that habit of blushing. There—you are at it now. Look in the mirror, and see if it does not spoil your complexion. A woman of the world, Celia, never blushes. It is quite old-fashioned and obsolete. So much for that."
"But, Madam,"—Celia began, and hesitated.
"Go on, my dear," said Lady Ingram. "You are not putting enough powder on the left side, Thérèse."
"If you please, Madam, I cannot stop blushing," pleaded Celia, doing it very much. "It depends upon my feelings."
"Well, it looks as if you could not," answered Lady Ingram, with a short, hard laugh. "But, my dear, you must. And as to feelings, Celia, a modish woman never has any feelings. Feeling is the one thing absolutely forbidden by the mode. Laugh as much as you please, but mind how you feel merry; and as to crying, that is not allowable except in particular circumstances. It looks well to see a girl weep for the death of her father or mother, and, within reasonable limits, for a brother or sister. But if you are ever left a widow, you must be very careful not to weep for the loss of your husband: that would stamp you instantly. And it is not bien séant for a mother to cry much over her children—certainly not unless they are quite babies. A few tears—just a few—may be very well in that case, if you have a laced handkerchief at hand. But you must never look astonished, no matter what happens to you. And, Celia, last night, when the Consul spoke to you, you absolutely looked perplexed."
"I felt so, Madam," said Celia.