“Madame—they are so very particular!—that the priest should be a devout man, and very old and experienced in the confession of girls like me.”
“I know; and we thought we had found such an one; but he has forgotten almost all his French, and you could hardly confess in English. But make yourself easy; your conscience shall soon be relieved.—Good night. Philips will sit up.... More work, do you want?—You may give Philips a French lesson. O, you have read all these books. Well: come with me into the library, and I will find you more.”
On the stairs they met lord F——.
“Where are you going, Letitia? Frances is closeted with Philips in the library.”
Thérèse immediately stole back to the dressing-room; but before the carriages drove off, she was furnished with a fresh volume wherewith to be occupied when she should have made tea for Mrs. Philips and herself.
The earl had dreaded lest he should find Letitia nervous at the prospect of the formidable evening she was about to pass. His visit was meant to reassure her, and she understood the kindness of the intention, and showed that she did. When lady Frances came in from her conference with Philips, she found them side by side on the sofa,—Letitia quiet and self-possessed, and the earl regarding her with as much admiration as kindness.
“I am sure you may be obliged to me for giving up Philips to you,” said lady Frances to Letitia. “She has dressed you beautifully to-night. Is not she a treasure?”
“A great treasure to you, Frances,” said her brother, “so pray take her back again. Letitia has one treasure of a maid in her dressing-room already, and it is a pity she should rob you of yours.”
“Indeed it is,” said lady F——. “Philips’s accomplishments are thrown away upon me, I am afraid. If you will allow her to give my little French girl a few lessons, I shall be just as much obliged to you, and shall not deprive you of your servant.”
Lady Frances protested; but her brother was peremptory, to her utter astonishment, for she had never known him speak of lady’s maids before, and would not have believed that he could ever learn one from another. She did not perceive that he did not choose that his wife’s beauty should be attributed to the art of her toilet.